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COPYRIGHT DEPOSre 



PUNISHMENT 



A PLAY IN FOUR ACTS 



BY 



LOUISE BURLEIGH 



AND 



EDWARD HALE BIERSTADT 



WITH INTRODtrCTION BY 

THOMAS MOTT OSBORNE 




NEW YORK 

HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY 

1916 






COPYEIGHT, 1916, 
BY 

LOUISE BURLEIGH 

AND 

EDWARD HALE BIERSTADT 



Published April, 1916 

This play in its printed form is designed for the reading public 
only. All dramatic rights in it are fully protected by copyright, 
both in the United States and in Great Britain, and no perform- 
ance — professional or amateur — or public reading, may be given 
without the written permission of the authors and the payment of 
royalty. Communications should be sent to the authors, care of 
Henry Holt and Company, 34 West 33d St., New York City. 




MAY 10 1916 

GI.D 438G8 



r 



THIS PLAY IS DEDICATED 
TO 

THOMAS BROWN, AUBURN NO. 33,333X 

WITH THE 

AFFECTION AND ADMIRATION 

OF THE AUTHORS 



INTRODUCTION 

TO write a truthful and effective play in 
which certain characters shall be crimi- 
nals or ex-convicts is a diflScult task, even for an 
experienced dramatist; for while the psychology 
of the prisoner is not fundamentally different 
from that of other men, yet he has lived under 
such abnormal conditions, — conditions so com- 
pelling, that it is hard even for the most prac- 
tised student of human nature to comprehend 
his point of view. Fully to understand the con- 
vict one must go to prison; and few dramatists 
are eager to do that. 

Still more diflBcult is it to write a play dealing 
with the actual life of the prison; for the task 
of making the plot deal with real prison material 
and yet make the facts seem both true and in- 
teresting to an audience, is almost insuperable. 
Many of the important details of prison life are 
certainly not agreeable, and in a drama would 
hardly seem credible. 

The authors of Punishment have succeeded 
to a very remarkable degree. They have caught 
the prison atmosphere; they have woven into 



vi INTRODUCTION 

their dramatic scheme a number of actual 
occurrences and have made them appear plaus- 
ible and convincing. There is nothing strained 
or improbable in the development of their plot. 
Out of truthful material they have made a most 
interesting play. To have succeeded in doing 
this is an achievement. 

I can vouch for the accuracy of the prison 
life depicted in Punishment. I have seen some- 
thing of that life, so close to the lives of all of us 
and yet so inconceivably remote, both from the 
side of the prisoner and from the side of the 
prison oflScial; and I think I should be quick 
to detect a false note. To me Punishment rings 
true; just as in a different field and dealing with 
quite another branch of the problem Gals- 
worthy's Justice rings true. Punishment is 
worthy of a place beside that bitter masterpiece. 

There are those to whom realism means 
nothing that is not disagreeable; but to my 
mind not the least of the merits of this play is 
that it closes on a major chord. Fortunately a 
prison play can now do that and yet remain 
truthful; that is where the American has the 
advantage over the English dramatist. The 
authors of Punishment have caught the spirit of 
our new American penology; and have not only 
written an important play, but one that must 



INTRODUCTION vii 

aid in bringing home to the public a great truth : 
that it is impossible to solve the problem of 
crime and imprisonment through brutality and 
disregard of the human nature of the convict, — 
but that it can be solved by means of sympathy 
and understanding. To aid in bringing that 
great truth home to the public, by means of the 
drama, is an important service. 

Thomas Mott Osborne. 



PUNISHMENT 



PERSONS OF THE PLAY 



IN THE ORDER OF THEIR ENTRANCE 



Mary Calvin. 
Martin . 
John Calvin 
King . 



Stephen Casey 
Mrs. Moyne . 
Daniel Moyne 
Scott . 
Jack Wilson 
Joe Ruffio . 
Francis . 



toife of John Calvin 
a convict; butler to the Warden 
Warden of Riverside Prison 
Principal Keeper of the prison; 

known as the P, K, 
politician, and coal contractor 
mother of Daniel Moyne 
a convict 
a keeper 
a convict 
a convict 
a keeper 



The action of the play takes place at Riverside Prison, some- 
where in the United States, and covers a period of two 
weeks. The time is the present. 



THE SCENES OF THE PLAY 

Act I. The living-room of the Warden's quarters. 

Late afternoon in Spring. 
Act II. The punishment cells; also known as the dark 
cells, or the cooler. 

Night and morning of the following Friday and 
Saturday. 
Act III. The Warden's office. 

Ten days later, in the evening. 
Act IV. The same. 

A few hours later; early morning. 



ACT I 

^ I HE Warden's quarters in Riverside Prison 
^ consist of grim rooms, decorated hy persons 
of more than ordinary had taste, some fifty 
years ago. The living-room, however, is relieved 
by indications of a woman's presence. A chaise 
longue has been drawn up before the fire on the 
right. Flowers are standing in a good vase on the 
table, as well as a work box. 

Right and Left, doors lead to the prison offices, 
and to the other rooms of the Warden's establish- 
ment: these latter are double doors, and reveal a 
flight of stairs. 

At the back, through large windows, the cell- 
block is visible. 

MRS. CALVIN is lying on the chaise longue. She 
has been reading, but the light has grown too dim 
for her to see, and she lies back with her eyes on the 
fire. MRS. CALVIN is a slender woman, nearing 
forty, reminding one of aflame, — held in continual 
leash, — or of a sheathed sword. She is dark, and 
is dressed in a simple house frock of crepe, unre- 
lieved except at the throat and wrist. About her 
neck, on a long chain, a miniature, in a locket, 

3 



PUNISHMENT [act i 



hangs over the edge of the couch until it touches the 
floor. She draws a long breath and closes her eyes 
as if she were very tired. 

From outside comes the sound of voices — shouts 
and orders^ and the pandemonium of men yelling 
and bawling, mrs. calvin starts nervously. 
She sits up and listens intently ^ and then goes to 
the window at the back where she tries to peer 
through the gloom of twilight. As she watches, the 
lights in the cell-block are flashed on and the noise 
grows in volume. Evidently she can see nothing, 
for she continues to listen even after she has come 
back to the center of the room. Then, with sudden 
determination, she moves to the bell and rings. She 
switches on the lights and stands waiting. 

MARTIN enters through the double doors, mar- 
tin is a convict, dressed in a neat, white linen 
jacket, with trousers of prison gray, ill-made and 
shapeless, and with clumsy prison-made shoes. 
His manner alternates between the poised respect 
of a trained servant, and a crude good nature 
which is his birthright. He has always, however, 
the repression which his life in prison has wrought 
upon him. His hair is almost white. 

MARTIN. Yes, Madam? You rang? 
MRS. CALVIN. Is anything wrong, Martin? 
In the prison? 



ACT i] PUNISHMENT 



MARTIN. No, Madam. They're bringing the 
men's supper to the cells. That's all. 

MRS. CALVIN. But this disturbance? 

MARTIN. They've been locked in since 
Saturday noon. Makes 'em hard to manage. 

[From this moment the noise decreases 
rapidly. 

MRS. CALVIN. Saturday, Sunday, and Mon- 
day — in those unspeakable cells. 

MARTIN. It's bad when a holiday comes on 
Monday like this, and they're locked in till 
Tuesday morning. ... I don't wonder they 
fight. 

MRS. CALVIN, [quickly.] There has been a 
fight? 

MARTIN. Two men in one cell. They. . . . 

MRS. CALVIN. Yes? 

MARTIN, [naively.] Say, I hadn't ought to be 
talking to you like this ! I forgot all you taught 
me. 

MRS. CALVIN. Never mind. Tell me. 

MARTIN. They'd been drinking. The row 
kind of got the rest of the men going, [mrs. 
CALVIN turns away with an involuntary move- 
ment] It's the way it happens when they've 
been locked in. Sunday is bad enough, but 
when Monday's a holiday and the shops are 
shut. . . . 



6 PUNISHMENT [act i 

MRS. CALVIN. Is Mr. Calvin in the prison, 
Martin? 

MARTIN. The Warden was in his office a while 
ago. [He starts toward the door.] Shall I see? 

MRS. CALVIN, [quickly.] No. . • . Thank 
you, Martin. 

[martin watches herforamoment, and then 
returns to his post by the door again, like 
a well trained servant. 

martin. Was there anything else, Madam .^ 

MRS. CALVIN, [turning, and looking at him 
with a smile.] Martin, you have learned very 
quickly. 

MARTIN. Thank you. Madam. 

MRS. CALVIN. In the six weeks the Warden 
and I have been here, you've become very 
careful in your way of speaking to me, and to 
Mr. Calvin. 

MARTIN. Thank you kindly, Mrs. Calvin. 
I . . . nobody never took interest in me like 
you have. Madam. 

MRS. CALVIN. You are an apt student. 

MARTIN, [embarrassed.] I'll be sorry to leave 
you . . . when . . . 

MRS. CALVIN. Your term is almost over, 
isn't it.?^ 

MARTIN, [his face alight.] In two weeks. 
Madam. 



ACT i] PUNISHMENT 



MRS. CALVIN. What shall you do.? Have you 
a family.? 

MARTIN, [shakes his head.] My daughter 
died last year. Madam. 

MRS. CALVIN. Friends.? Someone who will 
take you in until you find a position.? 

MARTIN, [with a wintry smile.] A man's 
friends don't remember him that long . . . 
sixteen years. Since my girl died I ain't had 
even a visitor. 

MRS. CALVIN. What position would you 
like best.? 

MARTIN. Any decent job. 

MRS. CALVIN. I've been thinking about you, 
Martin. You are a good butler. If you had 
been in my service at home, I should give 
you a good recommendation, [martin starts 
to speak.] So why not, now? I have friends 
who would . . . 

martin. You'd take the chance.? 

MRS. CALVIN. I trust you. We've been good 
friends, Martin, and when you leave us, I want 
you to go on feeling that I am your friend. 

MARTIN. I'll do that. I want to go straight. 

MRS. CALVIN. Of course you do. And you 
will. 

MARTIN. May heaven reward you . . . 
Madam. 



8 PUNISHMENT [act i 

MRS. CALVIN, [smiling.] Heaven will. 

[cALviN speaks outside. 
CALVIN. I expect him in twenty minutes. 
[A door closes outside, mrs. calvin 
smiles at martin, and turns back to 
her couch. 
MRS. CALVIN. I'll write to-day. We will find 
you something. 

[martin accepts the dismissal in her voice 
and starts out, into the inner rooms. 
CALVIN enters from the office. He is a 
big man, sparely built, with iron gray 
hair, and steel blue eyes. In moments 
of passion or excitement these eyes seem 
lit with blue fire. His mouth is keenly 
sensitive, but years of warfare with him- 
self have set it in rather hard, grim 
lines. His movements are quick and 
nervous. Altogether, he looks the Scots- 
man he is. He is between forty-five and 
fifty years old. 
CALVIN. My house-coat, Martin. 
MARTIN. Yes, sir. [Exit through double doors.] 
CALVIN, [going at once to his wife's side.] 
Your head is better, my dear? 

MRS. CALVIN. Thank you, much better, 
John. 

CALVIN. I'm glad of that. I'm going to have 



ACT i] PUNISHMENT 9 

dinner served half an hour later to-night — un- 
less you mind? 

MRS. CALVIN. Can't the prison spare you to 
me for one meal a day? 

CALVIN. That's just it; I want to dine with 
you. But before that I must keep an appoint- 
ment with Mr. Casey — he will be leaving at 
seven-fifteen. 

MRS. CALVIN. Is Mr. Casey a member of the 
Prison Commission? 

[cALViN shakes his head. 

MRS. CALVIN. Then why does he come here 
so often? 

CALVIN. To-day he comes at my request. 

MRS. CALVIN. But he's always appearing. 

CALVIN. He was a friend of my predecessor, 
and so got the habit, I fancy. Besides, he's 
been furnishing coal to the prison for the last 
four years. 

MRS. CALVIN. I distrust him. 

CALVIN. Frankly, I suspect, myself, that 
he's making a very good thing out of the coal. 
[martin comes in with the house-coat. 
CALVIN slips into it with a nod. 

CALVIN. Serve dinner at seven-thirty, 
Martin. 

MARTIN. Yes, sir. [He goes out, taking the 
coat CALVIN has discarded.] 



10 PUNISHMENT [act i 

MRS. CALVIN, [with a half smile.] This oflS- 
cial household! I can't make it seem anything 
but odd for you to be housekeeper. 

CALVIN. It could not be arranged otherwise, 
Mary. A woman can't be expected to control 
convicts. 

MRS. CALVIN. What about Martin.^ 

CALVIN. Martin is an isolated case where 
your personal influence. . . . 

MRS. CALVIN, [smiles at him.] You have to 
confess he is improved! 

CALVIN. Temporarily. But no sooner will 
he leave your influence than back he'll go. 

MRS. CALVIN. I don't intend that he shall. 
The Masons are in need of a butler. 

CALVIN. You'd ask them to take a con- 
vict? 

MRS. CALVIN. I ask them to take Martin. 

CALVIN, [growing stern.] I wish I could 
make you look at these men without senti- 
mentality. 

MRS. CALVIN. I look at them with humanity — 
that's all. They are all human beings, with 
the same limitations and possibilities as the 
rest of us. 

[cALviN turns away as if dismissing the 
subject. MRS. CALVIN, following her 
thoughts, draws the chain about her 



ACT i] PUNISHMENT 11 

neck through her fingers until she 

touches the miniature. The locket flies 

open in her hand. Her face whitens, 

and her lips grow tense. For a long 

moment she is silent, quivering with 

pain. 

[From the window calvin speaks casually. 

CALVIN. The men are unruly to-day. But the 

Principal Keeper tells me it's always so when 

they are kept in their cells from Saturday noon 

over Sunday and Monday. . . . You heard 

them getting their supper.'^ 

[mrs. CALVIN does not even hear him. 
She is looking in the fire with the open 
locket still in her hand, calvin turns, 
and when he sees her his face sets. He 
takes a step toward her, and speaks with 
hitter reproach. 
calvin. Mary ! 

[mrs. calvin starts and her eyes fill with 
involuntary tears. She snaps the cover 
of the locket. 
MRS. CALVIN. Yes? [cALViN with a gesture of 
displeasure, turning hack to the window, stands 
silent] You asked me something, John.^^ For- 
give me. 

CALVIN, [in a hard tone.] You heard the 
disturbance.^ 



12 PUNISHMENT [act i 

MRS. CALVIN. A fight, SO Martin said. 

CALVIN, [gravely.] That fellow Moyne. He's 
a tough specimen. 

MRS. CALVIN, [alert] Isn't he the man you 
put in the straight-jacket.^ 

CALVIN. [Nods. The flame begins to show in 
his eyes, which grow almost fanatic] Nothing — 
solitary confinement, the punishment cells, the 
straight-jacket — [mrs. calvin winces.] It's a 
severe measure, but it has no effect. 

MRS. CALVIN. It has an effect, John. It 
makes him fight you harder than ever. 

CALVIN, [intensely.] Of course we can starve 
him into temporary submission. We've done 
that. But then he will be up and making 
trouble again. [He looks away from her, hating 
to confess it.] He'd been drinking again to- 
day. 

MRS. CALVIN. And you have no clue. . . . 

CALVIN. No. [at white heat.] But if I catch 
the man who smuggles whiskey into this 
prison — it will not be an easy day for him ! 

MRS. CALVIN. Do you suspcct anyone.'^ 

CALVIN. Of course there's a leak somewhere. 
But I haven't a trace. [He bikings his right hand 
down upon his left palm.] I'll find it. The 
State's money shall be spent as the State in- 
tends. This prison shall be for the punishment 



ACT i] PUNISHMENT IS 

of criminals — not for the fattening of petty 
grafters! 

MRS. CALVIN. It's SO wrong! 

CALVIN, [pacing the room quickly, the fanatic 
light at full blaze.] Wrong .^ Of course it's wrong. 
All State institutions suffer under the spoils 
system, but after all — ^how can we improve it.'^ 
The chief bond between Party members is the 
possibility of mutual benefit. It's legitimate for 
the victorious party to put its members in 
oflSce. The rub comes from the fact that so 
many politicians are unscrupulous blackguards. 
Now there's Casey. He contracts for the coal, 
but at a preposterous figure. I've half a dozen 
bids lower than his. 

MRS. CALVIN, [with rising inflection.] He — ? 

CALVIN. As I said, he was a friend of the last 
Warden. They may have divided the rake-off, 
or it may have been [with a grim smile] friend- 
ship only. There won't be any rake-off this 
year if I know it. I'm saving the State about 
ten thousand dollars on food and coal alone. 
And I intend to stop the use of drugs by the 
men — it's almost stopped now, since I dis- 
charged those two keepers last week. . . . 
Moyne is a hard case. When I can find a way 
to break him, I shall make headway. 

MRS. CALVIN. Not break! 



14 PUNISHMENT [act i 

CALVIN. Yes, just that. 

MRS. CALVIN, [in a low voice.] You're wrong. 
IVe been watching you, John, since we came 
here. I've not criticised your work once in this 
past six weeks. I wanted you to try your way. 
But you are putting your efforts on the wrong 
side. Whenever you punish Moyne you only 
make him more bitter — against you and all that 
you stand for. You say he is a strong man. 
[cALYiN flashes a look at her.] You're baflSed by 
his persistence, and abihty to get round you. 
Why don't you enHst his help.'^ 

CALVIN. Help.^ 

MRS. CALVIN, [with a fervor as keen as her 
husband's.] All that power of resistance might 
be on your side — if you'd let it. 

CALVIN. Why, Mary, the man's a convicted 
criminal ! 

MRS. CALVIN, [pleadingly.] What made him 
one.'^ Do you know.'^ Do you know the least 
thing about him as an individual.^ No, of course 
you don't. Why should he show you even hu- 
man decency? You treat him like an animal — 
or worse. It's preposterous ! 

CALVIN. Does he deserve consideration at 
my hands .f^ 

MRS. CALVIN. Do you dcscrvc it at his.^^ 
Punishment is always a two-edged sword. 



ACT i] PUNISHMENT 15 

CALVIN, [a just judge.] The wages of sin is 
death. 

[mrs. CALVIN lifts a pale face and clutches 
the locket she wears in her hand. Cal- 
vin's face hardens. 

MRS. CALVIN. You taught me that two years 
ago. ... I haven't forgotten Walter. Don't 
you remember that we used to argue in these 
very terms about the boy.^^ "Let him learn that 
wrongdoing must be punished" — [She catches 
her breath.] How many times did you say that 
tome.^ 

CALVIN. The boy was delicate — and a little 
weak; and he was — twelve years old. Oh, there 
is no parallel ! 

MRS. CALVIN. We crushed the fine things in 
our son by emphasizing the mistakes he made. 
[cALViN turns away as she rises.] John, dear — I 
do not want to talk about Walter. If we were 
living it over, I'd so much rather that he should 
die — as he did, even, than grow into a hard, 
bitter man. But to stay here and see you fail 
again for the same reason — [A wave of feeling 
chokes her.] — I couldn't! 

CALVIN. Mary . . . 

MRS. CALVIN. When the Governor asked you 
to come here as Warden, it seemed to me a 
heaven-sent chance; a chance to prove that 



16 PUNISHMENT [act i 

Justice is not a blind force. I gave in to your 
arguments about our son, and you failed. 
Walter — preferred to die. 

CALVIN, [wincing.] Mary! 

MRS. CALVIN. Preferred to die rather than to 
face your heartless world ruled by — blind jus- 
tice. [She moves toward him.] John, when I 
gathered Walter's stiff little body into my 
arms — that night — I thought I'd rather die 
than to go on in your cruel world. And then — 
all at once I knew that I must help you to see 
that you were wrong. [Her voice trembles again.] 
You must learn somehow to be human. 

CALVIN, [coldly; himself again.] Perhaps 
it would be better, Mary, if you went away 
for a while. Your sympathies are too much 
tried here. YouVe never really recovered 
from the shock. 

MRS. CALVIN. I never shall — in the way you 
mean, John. And I cannot leave you until 
I've made you see. . . . 

[martin enters. 

MARTIN. I beg pardon. Madam. The Prin- 
cipal Keeper wishes to see the Warden. 

CALVIN. Very well. 

MRS. CALVIN. Have him here, John. Don't 
go back to that barren office. I'll rest before 
dinner. 



ACT i] PUNISHMENT 17 

CALVIN. I'm not driving you out? 

[MRS. CALVIN shakes her head. She nods 

to MARTIN who is watchiug her and 

goes toward the double doors, calvin 

follows her. martin goes to office. 

CALVIN, [solicitously.] Try to rest, my dear. 

MRS. CALVIN. I will. [He starts to speak.] 

No, let's not say any more. [She smiles at him, 

and slips through the door.] 

[As CALVIN turns back martin opens the 
door into the offices and admits king. 
KING, the Principal Keeper, is lanky, and 
of medium height, his chief characteristic 
being a pair of light gray eyes which are 
so steady in their gaze that one knows 
they have been trained in this art. But 
when no one is looking at him his 
glance is shifty. He has sandy hair, 
and wears the dark blue uniform of a 
keeper. 
[calvin shakes off the unwilling emotion 
stirred by his wife. 
calvin. Well, Mr. King.^ 
KING. The men in the cell-block who were 
fighting — they're locked in their own cell now. 
They must be sent to the cooler at once. I 
don't trust them in the same cell again. 
calvin. You want an order .f^ 



18 PUNISHMENT [act i 

KING. [evidently thinking it unnecessary.] 
You said no one was to be put in the dark cells 
without an order, sir. 

CALVIN. Quite right. Moyne, and — ? 

KING. Wilson. He's pretty bad off, sir. 

CALVIN. Hurt.^ 

KING. [shrugging.] No — sick. Fever or 
something. He was to have gone to the hospi- 
tal to-day. 

CALVIN, [sternly.] He was not too sick to 
be drunk. He cannot escape punishment on 
that plea. He will go with Moyne — for one 
week. 

KING, [not making a point of it.] Yes, sir. 

CALVIN. They'll make out an order in my 
office. Then I'll sign it. 

KING. Yes, sir. 

CALVIN. Moyne been making any more dis- 
turbance.'^ 

[martin appears in the door. 

KING, [after a perceptible pause.] He's been 
quiet, sir. [Exits through office.] 

CALVIN, [to MARTIN.] Wcll.^ 

MARTIN. Mr. Casey to see you, sir. 
CALVIN. I will see him here. I do not wish 
to be interrupted. 
MARTIN. No, sir. 
CALVIN. And ask Mr. Stevens for the coal- 



ACT i] PUNISHMENT 19 

contract file. I want the records for the last 
four years. 

MARTIN, [assents to the order.] A woman has 
been asking to see you. She is outside in the 
waiting-room, sir, and — 
CALVIN. Who is she? 

MARTIN. I think she's the mother of one 
of the inmates. Warden. 

CALVIN. Find out who she is, and her busi- 
ness with me. Remind me when Mr. Casey 
goes. 

MARTIN. Yes, sir. 

CALVIN. I won't see her unless it's something 
urgent. 

MARTIN. No, sir. 

[martin goes out into the office and calvin 
turns about the room, martin returns, 
shows in casey, and leaves. 
[cASEY is a short, dark Irishman of the 
Ulster type. He is well, but not too 
obviously well dressed. 
CASEY, [speaking with wholly evident intent 
to be cordial.] Well, Warden Calvin, this is a 
meeting I've been looking forward to. How 
are you? 

CALVIN. Well, thank you, Mr. Casey. [He 
motions toward a chair.] 

CASEY, [shrewdly.] Coal contracts ready? 



20 PUNISHMENT [act i 

CALVIN, [noncommittally .] I've sent for the 
papers. 

CASEY. No hurry, no hurry — all the time 
in the world. . . . Been having a little rough- 
house here, eh.^ 

[cALViN annoyed, starts to speak, and 
then pauses, frowning, 

CASEY. Somebody knocked out? 

CALVIN. No. 

CASEY. Nothing serious, I hope? 

CALVIN. Mr. Casey, where do you get your 
information? 

CASEY, [rather uneasily.] Oh, I stopped in 
the oflBce as I came through. 

CALVIN. The men there have been instructed 
not to talk to outsiders. 

CASEY. Fm no outsider. They all know me 
here. 

CALVIN, [conceding this,] Hereafter, how- 
ever, come to me for whatever information you 
wish. I am the oflBcial mouthpiece of this 
prison. 

CASEY, [shrugging, and with a barely con- 
cealed grin.] Have it your own way. Warden. 
You're doing fine here — I'll say that. Up to the 
Capitol last week I was talking to the Gover- 
nor, and I told him then ''Calvin is the boy to 
put the screws on," I says. 



ACT i] PUNISHMENT 21 

CALVIN, [looks hard at casey.] There will 
be some readjustments. 

[martin brings in a file of papers and 
hands them to calvin. 

CALVIN. All right. 

[martin goes out. 

CALVIN. Now, about the coal contract, 
Mr. Casey — 

CASEY. Must get down to business some- 
time, eh? Sure enough, sure enough. 

CALVIN. You have furnished the prison with 
coal for the last four years. 

CASEY. That's right, Warden. 

CALVIN, [running through the papers.] The 
figure is a constantly increasing one. 

CASEY, [jovially.] Coal has been on the 
rise. 

CALVIN. I may as well be frank, Mr. Casey. 
Your bid is not the lowest I have received. 

CASEY. Don't doubt it. 

CALVIN. Several men have offered to supply 
us with coal at a figure some thousands of dol- 
lars below yours. 

CASEY. Usually do. 

CALVIN. You understand that this contract 
goes to the lowest bidder.^ 

CASEY, [with utter good humor.] Sure it 
does. 



22 PUNISHMENT [act i 

CALVIN, [firm and unsmiling.] So that unless 
you can reduce your offer, the contract will be 
turned over to a new man. 

CASEY, [startled.] What.^ 

CALVIN. This contract goes to the lowest 
bidder. 

CASEY. That contract goes to me. It's been 
going to me for four years. 

CALVIN. It need not continue to do so. 

CASEY. Oh, needn't it.^ 

[cASEY, after watching the Warden for a 
moment^ finds the only solution which 
he can understand, for calvin's atti- 
tude. He becomes insinuating. 

CASEY. Warden, you're a slicker one than I 
took you for. 

CALVIN. What do you mean? 

CASEY, [dropping his voice confidingly.] Just 
that. I didn't get your number, [calvin stares 
at him.] Go to it your own way. Warden. If 
you want a reputation as a financier — fix up 
your books to suit yourself. But when the 
check is made out — I want my figure. 

CALVIN, [blandly.] That seems to you a good 
arrangement.^ 

CASEY. Suits me, all right. 

CALVIN, [very quietly.] You want, I under- 
stand, [taps papers] your original sum, [casey 



ACT i] PUNISHMENT 23 

nods] but I am to alter the figures in my books to 
suit my convenience? 

CASEY, [with a cheerful smile.] That's the 
dope, Warden. 

CALVIN. Why do you make such a suggestion 
to me? 

CASEY. Why does a chicken — oh, come on, 
Warden, you know the answer. 

CALVIN. And how am I to make up the 
deficit? 

CASEY. Now, you Wardens ain't so dull. 
You've got your ways of picking up a bit on the 
side. And in the matter of your commission — 
set your figure. 

CALVIN, [reflectively.] My figure. 

CASEY. Go as far as you like — but have a 
heart! 

CALVIN, [playing him.] What do you sug- 
gest? 

[cASEY rises and replies to calvin in an 
inaudible tone. 

CALVIN. Will you put that in writing? 
. CASEY. Nothing doing! D' you think I'm so 
fond of you I want to spend a year here? . . . 
You're trying to put something over on me. 
Warden Calvin. 

CALVIN, [finally.] I should have to insist 
upon having it in writing. 



24 PUNISHMENT [act i 

CASEY, [turning nasty.] You mean I don't 
get my contract — unless — 

CALVIN, [forcefully.] I mean you don't get 
the contract! 

CASEY. Outbid on the rake-off, am I.^ 
Well — what's the least you'll take.^ 

CALVIN, [trying to suppress a seething rage.] 
No one has offered me a premium for this con- 
tract, Mr. Casey, except yourself. I made up 
my mind to catch you in your dirty prac- 
tices. . . . 

CASEY, [snarling.] You did, did you? 

CALVIN. I knew I'd prove you a scoun- 
drel. 

CASEY, [quickly.] That's hard to prove. 

CALVIN. I've done it. 

CASEY, [quietly.] Got proofs.^ You've got a 
pile of papers there. They're valuable, aren't 
they.f^ Bring 'em into Court. The laugh won't 
be on me. Do you think I was born last year.^^ 
Warden Calvin — take a straight tip. You'll get 
nothing by bothering me. Cut it out if you 
know what's good for you. [Smiles suddenly.] 
And say, Calvin — while you're about it — ^you'd 
better learn the difference between testimony 
and evidence! 

CALVIN, [baffled, but fighting.] I know what 
is good for the prison; and there is nothing that 



ACT i] PUNISHMENT 25 

I need learn from you, Mr. Casey. [Goes to bell 
and rings.] 

CASEY, [menacingly.] You may take a few 

lessons yet — if you're going to hold your job. 

CALVIN. Thank you. My remaining here lies 

with my superiors, [ironically.] Why not 

offer them your advice.^ 

CASEY, [calculatingly.] Not a bad idea, Cal- 
vin; not a bad idea. 

[king appears in the doorway, calvin 
and CASEY turn to hiniy but there is no 
sign of recognition between casey and 

KING. 

KING, [to CALVIN, and holding out paper.] 
The order, sir. 

CALVIN, [replies absently.] Thank you. [to 
CASEY.] Then we may consider our interview at 
an end. Good evening. I shall not see you 
again, I presume. 

CASEY, [warningly.] Don't presume too far, 
Warden; don't presume too far. 

[calvin turns to king with an air of 
dismissing casey who fumes up and 
down. KING, unseen by calvin, ex- 
changes a glance with casey. 
CALVIN. I'll have to get my pen before I can 
sign these, Bang — it's in my other coat. 

[martin appears in the door. 



26 PUNISHMENT [act i 

CALVIN, [to MARTIN.] The iiiotor. Mr. Casey 
is catching the seven o'clock train. He will 
leave at once. 

MARTIN. Yes, sir. [Exits.] 

CALVIN, [with double meaning.] In two 
minutes the motor will be at the door, Mr. 
Casey. Wait, please. King. [He goes out into 
his inner rooms.] 

[cASEY glares after him. king moves 
his shifty eyes for a long look at 

CASEY. 

CASEY. By God, I'll call your bluff — or get 
your goat! Damn fool! Think this prison is 
run by the Warden, do you.^ You're in the 
kindergarten class with a lot to learn ! 

KING, [in a low voice.] What's the Chief 
thinking of .^ 

CASEY, [pacing the floor.] The Governor did 
it. The Governor thinks a lot about reform. 
The Governor's got to reform a whole lot of 
things he don't expect to. When I get to the 
Capitol I bet someone will take steps to make 
the Governor see reason. If we don't do it one 
way — well, you've heard about skinning cats, 
eh? 

KING. This place is a morgue! 

CASEY, [good humored again.] Moyne got the 
stuff, did he? 



ACT I] PUNISHMENT 27 

KING, [furtively y nods.] He and Wilson were 
howling drunk. They got to beating each other 
up and — 

CASEY, [sneeringly.] Y' know I just love 
sincere reform. . . . Wilson didn't know where 
the stuff came from? 

KING, [shakes head.] I took care of that. 
The keeper just handed it to them. 

CASEY. It's all pure friendship stuff with 
Dan Moyne. His family gets five dollars a 
week, you know, while he's in stir. 

[king gives casey one of his rare direct 
glances. 

CASEY. Pure brotherly love, King. [Grins.] 
Dan feels a natural gratitude. That's the kind 
Dan is. 

king. He's looking for a pardon soon. 

CASEY. It was talked of. He won't get it. 
Maybe — there's a reason. Dan might be more 
useful here than outside, [blandly.] Fond of 
Warden Calvin of course. 

KING, [dryly.] Warden's had him in the 
solitary, and the straight- jacket. He's going to 
the cooler for to-day's business. 

CASEY, [reflectively.] The jail. 

KING. Allowance per day — water, one gill; 
bread, one piece, and not too big a one at that. 
And he's booked for a week of it. Darkness, 



28 PUNISHMENT [act i 

and lice, a plenty. You know what the cooler 
is like. 

CASEY, [thinking fast] No. But it's time I 
found out. I might do some reforming my- 
self. . . . Could I see Dan Moyne in the cooler 
without its being known .^ 

KING. Nobody gets by the Visitors' 
Book. . . . 

CASEY. Well, once inside the prison — ? 

KING. I'll get you into the jail myself. Set 
your time — better make it early. 

CASEY. This Saturday. I'll come up by the 
first train. 

KING. 'Bout six in the morning. 

CASEY. You just keep things moving here. 
And say — don't Calvin send you signed slips 
from time to time? 

KING. Orders.^ Sure. 

CASEY. Hand me a batch. 

KING. Can't be done. He's started a new 
system of book-keeping, and he keeps copies of 
everything. And he keeps the copies locked 
in the files. Says he's going to stop the 
leaks. 

CASEY. Wise old bird, ain't he? Never mind. 
You get some of them. Take an impression of 
the key. Slide me out one or two. 

KING. I can't, I tell you. He — 



ACT i] PUNISHMENT 29 

CASEY. Shut up! He'll be back. Don't 
argue; do as you're told. 

KING, [sulkily,] He's had an eye on every- 
one. I want to keep my job. You know two of 
the boys were canned last week. 

CASEY. Your job would look sick without the 
rake-off I give you ! Honest, you'd be up against 
it if I got a new man to do the work for — [with a 
gesture] them up there; now, wouldn't you? 

KING. I know a lot about you, Mr. Casey. 

CASEY. I know more about you. King — and 
what I know, I can prove! Don't be a fool. 
Get me those papers, no matter how. I'll need 
'em — down in the city. 

KING. They're no good. Just ordinary daily 
orders to send men to the hospital or the jail, 
and like that. He [motioning toward ofice] don't 
do anything incriminating. 

CASEY. He might. Especially after I've had 
his orders a while. Get me pencil copies if you 
can. . . . Now keep the cons stirred up. King. 
Pull some of that stuff we worked on old War- 
den Perkins. Make the whole crowd think 
Calvin's out for their blood. And don't forget 
to remind 'em who their friends are. 

KING. They get awful restless without booze 
or dope after they're used to it. And they ain't 
the only ones that lose. The month before 



30 PUNISHMENT [act i 

Calvin came we pulled down 300 plunks on 
what we brought in. Do you know what we've 
taken in this month? Twenty -five dollars! 

CASEY. Don't worry. You'll be rid of him 
soon. He ain't got a chance, King, not a 
chance — as long as we can hold on to the men. 

KING, [looking keenly at him.] Don't over 
half the cons depend on us for the whiskey and 
drugs they use.^ Ain't they got to have it.^ He's 
trying to cut out their getting any more. 
They'll stay with us — don't you forget it, 
Mr. Casey. 

CASEY. Well, they should worry. They get 
theirs; we get ours — and the dear public's per- 
fectly satisfied. . . . You know where to reach 
me, don't you? 

KING. Headquarters? 

CASEY. Right. I'll be down on Saturday. 
You have some papers for me then, or tell me 
how to get them. So long. 

KING. So long. 

[martin enters with a note in his hand. 

MARTIN, [surprised at seeing casey.] The 
motor is waiting, sir. [to king.] Did the War- 
den go out, Mr. King? 

king, [motioning.] Upstairs. 

CASEY, [to MARTIN, affably.] Don't remember 
old friends, do you, Martin? 



ACT i] PUNISHMENT 31 

MARTIN, [looking at him; quietly,] Yes, sir; 
and my enemies too, sir. 

CASEY. [glaring.] You milk fed crook! 
[Goes out through office.] 

[king who has watched this silentlyy 
crosses to the chaise tongue and seats 
himself, martin starts upstairs, but 
meets mrs. calvin coming down. 
MRS. CALVIN. What is it, Martin.^ 
MARTIN. A note for the Warden. 
MRS. CALVIN. I detained him. He will be 
down directly. 

[mrs. CALVIN crosses to the chaise longue 
and sees king who rises uneasily. 
KING. The Warden asked me to wait. 
MRS. CALVIN. Certainly. 

[calvin comes in and martin meets him 
with the note. 
CALVIN. One thing at a time, Martin. 

[calvin has in his hand the orders which 

KING brought him, and his fountain 

pen. 

calvin. Everything is right, I think. King. 

Look them over if you will, please, [king does 

so; CALVIN retains copies.] I'll file these carbons. 

Good-night. 

KING. Good-night, sir. . . . Don't you 
want me to file those for you.^ 



32 PUNISHMENT [act i 

CALVIN. No, thank you. I'll do it. 

[king goes, calvin puts the carbons in 

his pocket and turns to martin, mrs. 

CALVIN has taken up some sewing. 

CALVIN inquires martin's errand with a 

glance. 

MARTIN, [handing calvin the note.] It's the 

woman, sir, who has been waiting for you. She 

is the mother of Daniel Moyne. 

[calvin makes a movement of impatience. 
He does not open the note. 
MARTIN. She was to visit him to-day. 
calvin. I've nothing to do with that. 
MARTIN. No, sir. . . . Moyne is going to the 
cooler so he could not see his mother. 
CALVIN. Naturally not. 

MARTIN. Well, sir, she came four hours on the 
train. She ain't seen him for eight months. 
She's a poor woman, sir, and can't afford the 
journey oftener than that. 

CALVIN. That's unfortunate, but men in 
punishment cannot have visitors. 
MARTIN. No, sir. 

CALVIN. The Principal Keeper knows that. 
MARTIN. Yes, sir, but Mr. King told me 
to see you. Moyne ain't in the cooler yet 
and . . . 

CALVIN. He's been chalked in his own cell 



ACT i] PUNISHMENT 33 

before being removed to the punishment cells. 
I have just signed the order to send him 
down. 

MARTIN, [changing his tactics and motioning 

toward the note which calvin holds still un- 

opened.] The woman, sir, wrote you a note. 

CALVIN, [his temper flashing.] Of course she 

cannot see him ! 

MRS. CALVIN, [speaking impulsively, but 
gently.] But, John, you will read her note. 

[calvin shrugs, opens the note, reads it 

with a frown, mrs. calvin crosses to 

him, and he hands her the note with a 

sigh. 

calvin. It's all very irregular. The usual 

melodrama, Mary. 

[mrs. calvin reads the note with a look of 
surprise and pleasure at being permitted 
to do so. 
MRS. CALVIN, [quietly.] It seems pathetic to 
me. 

CALVIN. It's out of the question ! 
MRS. CALVIN. Then explain to her, John, just 
why she cannot see him. She won't understand 
unless you do, and not to know will distress her 
even more than the truth. Please. 

CALVIN. It's nonsense ! I cannot and will not 
do it ! [Of a sudden he checks himself, and in a 



34 PUNISHMENT [act i 

Hash changes.] . . . But — you may be right, 
Mary! 

[cALViN nods a quick assent to martin. 
MRS. CALVIN smiles y recognizing a famil- 
iar characteristic^ motions martin to 
waity and crosses over to her husband. 
MRS. CALVIN. John — to please me again — 
have her come in here. It's so much more 
human than your barn-hke office. 

CALVIN, [exasjperated.] Well — ! It's your 
affair then. [Nods to martin.] No heroics, 
Mary. 

[mrs. CALVIN shakes her head smiling. 
[martin brings in the old woman. She is 
pale and thin, bent and wrinkled, with a 
dress of rusty black. She is completely 
awed by the interview. 
CALVIN. You are Daniel Moyne's mother.'^ 
MRS. MOYNE. Ycs, your honor. 
CALVIN. Unfortunately, Mrs. Moyne, your 
son has been sent to the punishment cells for 
drunkenness. 

MRS. MOYNE. Dan ain't a bad boy, your 
honor, he ain't a bad boy. To be sure he'd be 
after having a drop taken, and he stopping in 
at the saloon at evening. But he ain't like 
some are, sir, spending all his wages for the 
drink — 



ACT i] PUNISHMENT 35 

CALVIN. At present, however, he is confined 
for drunkenness, a fact that will prevent his 
seeing you. My wife persuaded me to explain 
to you that this is a rule of the prison and that 
therefore no exception can be made in your 
favor. I am sorry. 

MRS. MOYNE. [tuming to mrs. calvin.] Do 

you know what it is to have a boy, ma'am? 

May he never be taken away, and he the sole 

support of his old mother and three childer. 

[There is a momentary "pause and calvin 

looks at his wife expressively. 

CALVIN, [to MRS. CALVIN.] You scc, Mary.^ 

MRS. CALVIN. [to MRS. MOYNE.] It is VCry 

hard for you. 

MRS. MOYNE. Indeed, indeed, ma'am, $15.00 
a week regular we lost when he was sent 
away. 

MRS. CALVIN. And you have been saving to 
come here and see him.^ 

MRS. MOYNE. Surc, it's eight months since 
last I saw Dan, ma'am. Little Jimmy — that's 
the baby — has a new tooth, ma'am. 

CALVIN. Really, Mary — ! 

[mrs. calvin shakes her head at him^ 
smiling a little. 

MRS. MOYNE. [to CALVIN.] And, your honor, 
some of Dan's friends has been trying their 



36 PUNISHMENT [act i 

influence with the Governor, God save him, to 
get Dan a pardon. 
CALVIN. Ah! 

MRS. MOYNE. Yesterday was the day we 
heard he could not get it, sir. [to mrs. calvin.] 
Oh, I'm almost frightened to tell him, ma'am; he 
was that eager for his pardon, and him hoping 
and waiting. . . . 

MRS. CALVIN. Oh, I'm so sorry! 
MRS. MOYNE. It's hard surely. [She begins to 
cry with the monotonous weeping of old age,] I 
wanted to see Dan to tell him that the childer 
was still alive, and to say to him — May God 
Almighty and the Blessed Saints protect you 
until such time as you're released from bondage. 
[Cries gently.] 

[mrs. CALVIN turns to her husband who has 

been watching mrs. moyne keenly. He 

has been thinking hard, his face lit by a 

new idea. 

CALVIN, [to MRS. MOYNE.] You Say Moyuc's 

pardon was refused, and that he doesn't know it 

yet.? 

[mrs. MOYNE nods half fearfully. 

CALVIN, [briskly.] You shall see your son at 

once, and here. [Rings bell. To mrs. calvin.] 

A week in the dark cells with that to think 

about ought to reduce him to order. 



ACT I] PUNISHMENT 37 

MRS. CALVIN. Oh, John! 

MRS. MOYNE. [in terror.] What are they go- 
ing to do to Dan, ma'am .^ 

[martin appears in the doorway. 

CALVIN. Martin, ask the P. K. to send Moyne 
here before he goes to the dark cells. I want 
to see him. 

MARTIN. Yes, sir. [Goes out.] 

MRS. MOYNE. Is he coming here now.'^ To 
this room is it.^ Oh ma'am — it's a little thing — 
might I kiss my boy.^ I ain't even touched his 
hand since he came to this place. 

[mrs. CALVIN is too moved to speak, cal- 
viN is as cold and as hard as steel. 

CALVIN. Your son will come here, but you 
must not touch him. I want you to tell him that 
his pardon has been refused, [mrs. calvin starts 
to speak, calvin to her.] Stringent measures 
are necessary. I've told you, Moyne must be 
broken. [To mrs. moyne.] I'm doing this for 
your son's own good. 

MRS. MOYNE. May God bless your honor, and 
the Blessed Saints — 

CALVIN, And then he will go at once to the 
punishment cells. You will be allowed to see 
him for a few moments only. I shall remain in 
the room. Mary, you had better go. 

MRS. CALVIN. I will stay. 



38 PUNISHMENT [act i 

MRS. MOYNE. [weepiug,] It is a pleasant 
thing to see your only son after eight months, 
ma'am, but it's very sorrowful to have nothing 
but disappointment to bring him; misery and 
disappointment to your only son, and he so 
hoping. ... 

MRS. CALVIN, [crosses to her and speaks gently,] 
You have forgotten that the children are well, 
and that the baby has a tooth. 

MRS. MOYNE. Oh, ma'am — yes, ma'am. 

[martin comes to the door. 
MARTIN. Shall Moyne — ? 
CALVIN. Bring him in. 

[martin steps out and admits king who 
leads in daniel moyne. dan is hag- 
gard and surly. At first he does not 
look up. His mother stops her crying 
and looks at him. There is a long 
moment of silence, mrs. calvin does 
not take her eyes from the old woman. 
CALVIN is simply stern and cold — a just 
judge. 
MRS. MOYNE. Dannie! 

[dan starts violently and sees his mother. 
For a moment the face, which was once 
sensitive, lights up with pleasure. Then 
his eyes travel to mrs. calvin and to the 
Warden, and his face sets again. He 



ACT i] PUNISHMENT 39 

glares at them all like some trapped 
animal^ saying nothing, king reaches 
back and raps on the door. 
MRS. MOYNE. Dannie boy, it's mother! 
[Keeper scott enters and takes up his 
position on the other side of dan. 
CALVIN. He knows you, Mrs. Moyne. [At 
his brisk tone the old woman shrinks^ and dan 
looks furiously at the Warden.] Moyne, you took 
a bad time to disgrace yourself. This was the 
day for your mother's visit. Men in Punish- 
ment don't see visitors, [dan makes an in- 
articulate sound.] I have, however, broken a 
rule because I think it well for you to hear the 
news which your mother. . . . 

dan. [trying to leap forward,] Did they get 
it? 

[There is a momenfs pause, mrs. moyne 
moves forward a step. On her face is 
written her disappointment. She sobs, 
but says nothing, mrs. calvin watches 
DAN. She is pale with sympathy, cal- 
vin is quite unmoved. 
DAN. [with a broken cry.] Oh, the stinking 
cowards ! 

MRS. MOYNE. They tried, sonny, they tried, 
but the Governor. . . . 
DAN. Damn the Governor! 



40 PUNISHMENT [act i 

CALVIN. Moyne ! 

DAN. You too! What do you and the 
Governor know about it — hey.^ 
CALVIN. Take him away. 

[mrs. CALVIN moves swiftly to her hus- 
band. 
MRS. CALVIN, [in a quick, decided tone.] Wait, 
John. You said this was to be my affair. Let 
me manage it. 

[The shock stops everyone, calvin lifts 
his shoulders half unwillingly. 
MRS. CALVIN, [briskly to dan.] Your mother 
has made this long journey to see you. Don't 
waste time in raging, [dan stares at her blankly.] 
Of course you're disappointed about your par- 
don, but cursing won't do any good. [She moves 
over to MRS. moyne.] Your mother has other 
news, news of home and your children. You 
must not let her go away again without hearing 
it. 

[dan looks at MRS. calvin as if she were 

some new and strange creature, calvin 

moves forward and then checks him- 

self. 

DAN. [hoarsely to his mother.] Kids well.^ 

MRS. MOYNE. Yes, Dannie, they're well. 

Only the baby was a bit ailing on account of his 

teeth, but the tooth came through, and they're 



ACT i] PUNISHMENT 41 

all well. They sent their love and a kiss to their 
dad. . . . The baby's tooth is like that, Dan- 
nie, you would like to feel it biting on your 
finger like a grown man. 

[cALViN moves toward his wife impa- 
tiently. She checks him. He goes to the 
other end of the room and starts walking 
up and down with increasing restless- 
ness, glancing at his watch, which he 
holds open in his hand, from time to 
time. 
DAN. [to his mother.] Do they get enough to 
eat.^ 

MRS. MOYNE. They have enough now, since 
the boys sent us — 

DAN. [sharply.] Never mind about that! 
MRS. MOYNE. But Maizy, she is needing shoes 
for the school. [To mrs. calvin.] A great child 
for shoes, she is, ma'am, Maizy. 

[mrs. CALVIN is listening calmly, but in- 
tently, dan looks at her again in won- 
derment. 
MRS. CALVIN. How old IS Maizy.'^ 
MRS. MOYNE. Maizy, now. . . . 
DAN. [to MRS. CALVIN.] Shc's ten. 
MRS. CALVIN. She must wear a twelve or a 
twelve and a half shoe. 
MRS. MOYNE. [pleased.] Twelve D. 



42 PUNISHMENT [act i 

DAN. [suspiciously.] She don't need charity. 

[mrs. CALVIN is rather taken aback and 

says nothing. Before she can pick up 

the broken thread the next scene is in 

full swing and has checked her. 

MRS. MOYNE. [to DAN rcproviugly .] Dannie — 

she has a kind heart. [To mrs. calvin.] I says 

to Maizy, ma'am, now when your dad has his 

pardon got — 

DAN. [breaks in with passionate fury.] Par- 
don ! Pipe-dream ! You're fools, the lot of you ! 
And that damn dude Governor's the worst of 
the bunch ! 

[calvin stops short in his quick march, 
and snaps his watch in a decisive way. 
CALVIN. Take him away ! 

[dan is hauled from, the room by king who 
threatens him with his club. 
KING. Come on now! 

[king is aided by scott in dragging dan out. 

DAN. [snarling as he is jerked out.] Yes, and 

you, Mr. Warden, with your rules and your 

punishment. Go on and find out! Put me in 

the jail. String me up by my wrists again! 

You can't break me! I'll beat you to it yet! 

I'll get you good! I'll get you. . . . [Exit.] 

[At a motion from calvin, who has been 

utterly unmoved by dan's outburst. 



ACT i] PUNISHMENT 43 

the old woman is led weeping from the 
room by scott, who returned for her 
after helping to eject dan. 
[mrs. CALVIN is startled, half frightened. 
She goes quickly to her husband. 
MRS. CALVIN, [anxiously.] Dearest! 
CALVIN, [coldly, but putting an arm about her 
shoulders.] No, Mary. I am in no danger. The 
man is powerless against me. 

[Immediately following his words the lights 
go out in the cell-block, and some distant 
door slams to with a heavy metallic clang. 



THE CURTAIN FALLS 



ACT II 

nr^HE punishment cells, otherwise known as the 
^ dark cells, the jail, or the cooler, are five in 
number, each measuring 7ft. x 7ft, x 3]/ift. and 
are made of steel. They are situated in a vaulted 
stone chamber below the surface of the ground. On 
entering this chamber, the visitor finds himself in a 
small square ante-room, with a narrow corridor 
into which the doors of the individual cells open, 
directly in front of him. As his eyes become accus- 
tomed to the light which filters dimly through two 
narrow slits high in the gray wall, he will see on his 
left a bench, with a sink just behind it, and in 
front of him at the end of the first steel cell, a 
locker in which the "jail clothes'' are kept. When 
a keeper enters the room, he lights it by means of a 
single electric light on a long leader. This light 
may be carried into the cells, which are themselves 
unlighted. They are bare of furniture; in the 
door of each is a grated opening a foot square. 
The doors of cells 1, 3, and 5 are open, the cells 
being empty. In cell 2 is jack wilson, and in 
cell If near the entrance to the room is daniel 

MOYNE. 

44 



ACT II] PUNISHMENT 45 

When the curtain rises there is silence in the 
cells. Then jack coughs and coughs in a long 
spasm. The door of the room rattles and a key 
grates in the lock. The door opens and admits 
keepers scott and francis with Joseph ruffio, 
a prisoner, francis closes the door again. 

JOE. I tell you I never. . . . 
SCOTT. Shut up! 

JOE. But, Cap'n, I was looking. . . • 
SCOTT. Take off your clothes. 

[francis opens the locker and takes out the 
suit of jail clothes which ruffio is to 
wear. Both men in the cells listen in- 
tently, crouched close to their doors. 
JOE. Well — I guess I got no kick coming. 
I'm lucky not to get rail-roaded to the Chair. 
There's no comeback anyhow. But I never had 
a knife. That runner's got it in for me. He 
framed me up. 

[joe stands in his underclothes with his 

hands held above his head, scott 

searches him by passing his hands 

rapidly over his body and limbs. 

SCOTT. All right. Put on those duds. [He 

points to the clothes francis holds.] 

joe. [hesitating.] Cap'n, who wore those 
last? 



46 PUNISHMENT [act ii 

SCOTT. Don't make so much talk. Put 'em 
on. 

[They complete the process. Francis opens 
the door of cell 1 and joe is thrust into it. 
FRANCIS goes to a row of small red 
buckets^ standing against the hack wall 
of the outer room, takes one and carries 
it into joe's cell, where he leaves it. 
Then he goes out of the cell closing the 
door behind him. He locks the cell- 
door. The key turns gratingly. Mean- 
while SCOTT has been cutting off the 
white disk and good conduct stripes from 
the sleeve of the coat ruffio wore when 
he came in. After he has done this 
SCOTT puts the clothes in the locker. 
[The two keepers put out the light and 
leave the room. The door slams and the 
key grates heavily. 
JOE. Hello, pals! Who's among those pres- 
ent.^ 

JACK. I'm Jack Wilson — in number two. 
JOE. Sure. And Dan Moyne's here too, 
ain't he.^ Anybody else.^ 

JACK. Dan's here, in number four, but he 

ain't talking much. No one else. Who are you.^ 

JOE. Joe Ruffio. Weave shop. Cap't 

Smith's all right, but that damned little runner 



ACT ii] PUNISHMENT 47 

of his is a rat. He framed me up. Planted a 
knife in my locker. Just wait. He'll get his all 
right. 

[jack coughs violently. 

JOE. Ain't got the T.Bs., have you, kid? 

JACK. Wish I had. I'm sick. Sore in my 
ear. It runs. 

JOE. Cheer up, old-timer! What do you do 
down here to make things lively.^ Ever sing.^ 
[He hums a little.] Know this.^ [He sings a few 
bars of an Italian street song.] 

[jack has another spasm of coughing which 
leaves him so weak and ill that the coughs 
finally change to sobs. 

JOE. Come on, kid. Cheer up. 

JACK. Oh yes, you can talk. 

JOE. [with firm quietness.] Why can I talk 
better than anyone else.^^ 

JACK. You ain't been down here four days. 
[He groans.] 

JOE. [rather tenderly.] I know it. 

JACK. Oh, my head! 

JOE. Pretty bad, is it.f^ 

JACK. Feels like a house on fire. [He whim- 
pers a little like a child.] I want a handkerchief. 
I wish I had a handkerchief. 

JOE. [a little bitterly.] That wouldn't be 
safe. You might. . . . [He pauses significantly .] 



48 PUNISHMENT [act ii 

DAN. [suddenly,] Huh! He could use his 
shirt. What good to take away his handker- 
chief.'^ Tie the sleeves of his shirt round his 
neck — that's the way. 

JOE. [calmly.] Well, the chap that did it last, 
down here, used his handkerchief, Dan. They 
never let you keep your handkerchief since that. 

DAN. [growling.] All the comforts of home 
here, ain't there .^ God, Jack, that pen of ours in 
the cell-block looks like a modern improvement 
flat when I think about it. 

JACK, [whimpering.] I'm sore all over from 
the rivets on the floor. I wish I had a bed. It's 
cold on the floor. I'm cold all over except my 
head. My head's burning up — burning up. 

DAN. Cut it, can't you. Jack? It was my 
fault, but you know how full of booze I was. 
[A pause. His voice comes, full of pleading and 
affection.] Don't you, Jack.^ 

JACK. Sure I do, Dan. 

JOE. [easily.] Well, when two fellows are 
locked in one cell from noon Saturday till 
Tuesday morning, no wonder they get restless. 

DAN. I never hit a pal, when I ain't been 
drinking. 

JOE. You can't never tell what you will do, 
cooped up that way, with the best pal in the 
world. 



ACT ii] PUNISHMENT 49 

DAN. [rather pathetically,] I never hit you 
before, did I, Jack? 

JACK. No, Dan. Ever since I come here 
you've been white to me. [Stubbornly.] But I 
was right if I was sick. 

DAN. Aw, your mind's queer. 

JACK. It ain't. The guard was talking to the 
P. K., I tell you. [He draws a long groaning 
breath.] 

JOE. [soothingly.] What did he say, old man? 

JACK. Tell him, Dan. I can't talk much. 

DAN. Jack thought the P. K. was talking 
about Casey. You know who Casey is, don't 
you? 

JOE. For one thing — he's your ward-boss, 
ain't he? 

DAN. Yes, sort of. Jack — sick the way he 
is — took it into his head that Casey sent us the 
booze the keeper slipped us. Well, what if he 
did? Was it poisoned? 

JACK, [with sick petulance.] There was some- 
thing phony about it. The P. K. said, Casey's 
orders. I know he did. What did he mean — 
orders? 

DAN. It don't cut no ice if he did. A man 
might send a present to a pal — treat him to a 
drink. 

JOE. He might — if he was a pal. Jack's got 



50 PUNISHMENT [act ii 

the right dope, Dan. Politicians don't give 
presents for nothing. Casey is a politician. 

DAN. [with rising anger.] You're crazy, both 
of you. What do you know about Casey .^ Why 
you never saw him in your life! 

JACK. That's so, Dan, but. ... 

DAN. Mr. Casey has been good to me. 

JOE. He wants something, you bet. 

DAN. [with a short laugh.] From me.^ Now 
what.^ Casey's a big man. He don't need to 
bother with me, but he likes to be friendly. 
Look at the boys that tried to get me my par- 
don — hell burn the Governor! 

JOE. Dan, the Party don't do nothing for 
love. The Party is out for cash only. 

DAN. Then why does it send my mother 
five plunks a week.^ She can't do nothing for 
them. 

JOE. Ain't she taking care of your kids.'^ 

DAN. Sure! 

JOE. The Party knows a man feels grateful 
to anybody who'd look out for his kids while 
he's doing his bit. And when you got a man 
grateful — you got him tied hand and foot. 
Let politics alone, Dan. You'll never get 
anywhere except where you are, sticking to 
them. 

DAN. Sticking to 'em is the only way you can 



ACT ii] PUNISHMENT 51 

get anywhere! How else can you get your 
term cut? Who else'd get a pardon for 
you? 

JOE. Pardon? That don't always work, does 
it, Dan? 

DAN. Oh, damn that Governor! 

JOE. Cut loose, Dan. Shake Casey's crowd. 
They may help you now, but when they do get 
you out, they'll put you on some dirty job, 
and — you'll come back. You'll go down and 
out. 

DAN. Might as well as rot in this hole. 
God — it was bad enough with the old Warden, 
but what it'll be now the reformers are having 
fun with us, the devil alone knows. 

JACK. Mr. Calvin is. . . . 

DAN. [mockingly.] Mr. Calvin is the only 
Warden you ever saw. Jack. Well, he won't 
break me. I'll see him frying in hell first! 

JOE. The Warden is stiff. He's got the 
wrong hunch. 

DAN. Let him be. Stiffer the better. He 
won't last so long. 

JOE. No. A stiff Warden don't have much 
chance, even if he is honest. 

[jack moans as if in protest at this senti- 
ment. 

JOE. Nobody wants a stiff Warden. Do you 



62 PUNISHMENT [act ii 

want to live in hell, Jack? [Jack groans weakly.] 
And — [He stumbles over the thought.] and people 
outside won't stand for this reform stuff. 

JACK. What people? 

JOE. You got me there, Jack. Politicians, I 
guess. 

DAN. Lay everything on to politics, Joe! 

JOE. Well, you remember Warden Perkins? 
He got run out fast enough. 

DAN. Served him right. 

JACK, [thickly.] Talk louder, Joe. My head 
buzzes. I can't hear you. 

JOE. Somebody kept sending the men booze, 
and dope, and then there was riots. Place was 
so upset they thought they'd have the militia 
down. The Governor thought it was Warden 
Perkins' fault — so did the fathead public — but 
it was all a plant, stirred up from outside. 

DAN. Good stuff! 

JOE. You're all for the Party now, Dan, but 
the Party ain't for you, and don't you forget it. 
The Party's out for money. They have dirty 
work to do — and you're a crook, fit to do it. 
They might get you off this time, but they 
wouldn't let you make good anywhere. Once a 
crook, always a crook, is their motto. If they 
have a line on you, then you can't go straight. 
Sooner or later you'll be back here. 



ACT ii] PUNISHMENT 53 

DAN. I may always be a crook, but I'm 
damned if I ever get caught again. I'll show 
'em, the rotten. . . . 

[There is the sound of the key in the door. 
SCOTT enters^ bringing bread and water. 
He takes the light on its long leader into 
the "passage with him and throws it 
through the grating into each cell. He 
looks into the empty cells which stand 
always with their doors open. The 
keeper does not open the cell doors. He 
pokes the piece of bread through the slot 
in the door and then pours the water into 
the cup the man holds out through a fun- 
nel with a very long spout which reaches 
through the grating. He goes first to dan 
and gives him his allowance, dan sees 
him through the cell grating by the aid 
of the light. 
dan. [with a start of surprise.] Hello, Scotty ! 
What the. . . • 
SCOTT. Can't talk now. Back later. 

[scoTT goes on to jack's cell. He flashes 

the light into the cell, jack is stretched 

on his back in a half stupor. He does 

not move. 

SCOTT. Hey! What's the matter with you.^ 

[The light is held steadily for a moment 



54 PUNISHMENT [act ii 

straight in jack's eyes. He moves un- 
easily. The others are listening. 
JOE. He's sick, sir. 
SCOTT, [without emotion.] Sick.^ 

[The light continues to focus on jack's 
face. He slowly rolls over, sees the 
keeper y and struggles to his feet. 
JACK, [gasping.] Water .^ [He pours the few 
drops that remain in his cup down his throat, and 
greedily extends his cup for another gill. The 
keeper fills the cup, and thrusts in the bread.] 
Say, my throat's burning up — look — it only 
covers the bottom of the cup. Couldn't you 
fill it fuU.f^ Just this once! 
SCOTT. Against the rules. 
JACK. For God's sake, sir. [He cries.] I'm 
sick, sir. Water would save my life. Couldn't 
I have the cup full just this time.^ So I could 
drink a whole mouthful at once. For God's 
sake, sir! 

SCOTT, [in a slightly lowered tone.] What do I 
get out of it? 

JACK, [faltering.] I — I haven't. . . . 
SCOTT. I'm no charity organization. 
JACK, [in despair.] For the love of God, sir! 
[scoTT goes on to joe, gives him his allow- 
ance, turns out the light, and leaves the 
room, jack settles hack. 



ACT II] PUNISHMENT 55 

JOE. You didn't get it, Jack? 

JACK. I ought to have known better than to 
ask. 

JOE. Tough luck. Wish I could sKp you 
mine. I don't need it so much. I've been hav- 
ing all I wanted. 

JACK. You're all to the good, Joe. You'll need 
it before you get out anyhow. Oh, my head! 

JOE. Better sleep. 

JACK. Seems as if I'd smother when I lie 
down. I might sit in the corner and sleep if it 
weren't for the bed-bugs. 

JOE. Ain't they hell? 

JACK. I'm so damn thirsty I could drink the 
whole river. Last night I didn't sleep at all. 
First my head — then the rivets on the floor — 
then the bed-bugs — and no water. And in the 
morning that dynamo next door, beat and 
beat. • . . Did you hear me choking, Dan? 

DAN. I talked to you. 

JACK. Oh, sure. Well, I got to thinking 
about the death-house next door. Wondered 
how the fellows in there feel when they hear the 
dynamo buzzing. 

JOE. Poor devils ! They're worse off than we 
are. 

JACK. Anyhow they know they'll be out of it 
soon. 



56 PUNISHMENT [act ii 

DAN. Say ! Cheerful party, ain't we? For the 
love of Mike, buck up. Can't you think of any- 
thing better than the death-house to gas about. '^ 

JOE. Eaten your supper, Dan.^ 

DAN. Supper — huh! I chewed the stale stuff 
they call bread. 

JOE. Mine's mouldy, too. 

DAN. This here chunk's been mouldy for 
three days. I can think of a supper now. A 
steak, smothered in onions, with fried potatoes 
and vegetables. . . . 

JACK. For God's sake, Dan! 

DAN. Go to your downy. Jack. Sweet dreams ! 

JOE. Take a drink, Jack, and get to sleep, old 
man. 

JACK. Don't dare. A fellow might choke to 
death down here without getting help. I wake 
up when the midnight train whistles, and I'll 
never get off again without a bit of water. 

JOE. Save it then. 

JACK. I put it away in a safe corner till my 
throat gets cracking. 

JOE. Say, how do you lie down here.^^ 

DAN. Take off your shoes and shirt and make 
yourself a pillow. Throw your coat over you. 
It's warmer so. 

[job follows these directions, and the others 
do the same. 



ACT ii] PUNISHMENT 57 

JOE. Good night, fellows. 

DAN. 'Night. 

JACK. Good night, Joe. 

[There is a momentary stirring as they 

settle for the night. 
[The curtain falls for a moment to indicate 

the passing of hours. 
[The whistle of a train is heard faintly. 
{The curtain rises. The stage is in black 
darkness. There is the rattle of keys and 
the clang of drawn bolts. The iron 
hinges of the door creak. The men are 
still asleep, scott enters and turns on 
the light. He takes it to dan's cell and 
flashes it in. 
SCOTT, [briskly.] Cell four! 
DAN. Huh.^ 
SCOTT. Cell four! 
DAN. [half awake.] What's yours? 
SCOTT, [roughly.] For Christ's sake answer 
your name, so I'll know you ain't dead ! 
DAN. [snapping.] Daniel Moyne. 
SCOTT, [cheerfully.] Hello, Dan. 
DANn [sitting bolt upright in the light; he cannot 
see the speaker because of the glare.] Who is it.^ 

SCOTT. Scott. 

[They talk in lowered tones, dan rises and 
leans against the cell door. 



58 PUNISHMENT [act ii 

DAN. Said you'd be back, didn't you? What 
are you doing down here ? This ain' t your regular. 
SCOTT, P. K.'s orders. For to-night only. 
DAN. Say, the stuff you gave us sure got us in 
wrong. 

SCOTT. Stuff was all right. [He grins in,] 

DAN. [grins.] Sure. 

SCOTT. On my way. 

DAN. [settling back.] Bad luck to you! 

[scoTT goes to jack's cell, jack is huddled 
in a corner. When the light is flashed 
on him he does not move. The keeper 
turns the light into every corner of the 
cell. In the corner nearest jack's feet 
he pauses for a moment to rest the light 
on the tin cup of water. 
SCOTT. Cell two! 

[jack does not move. 
SCOTT. Hey, you, two. [He holds the light in 
jack's eyes, jack jumps awake.] Two! 
JACK. Yes, sir.^ 
SCOTT. Answer your name. 
JACK. Wilson. 
SCOTT. John Wilson.^ 
JACK. Number 25,683. 
SCOTT. Right. 

[He goes on to joe, and jack tries to find 
his former position. 



ACT II] PUNISHMENT 59 

SCOTT, [coming to joe who has been waked.] 
Cell one! 
JOE. Joseph RuflSo. Is it morning.^ 
SCOTT. Midnight round. 

[joe mutters half to himself. 
SCOTT. What's eating you? 
joe. Can't sleep. First night here. 
SCOTT, [friendly,] You'll get used to it. 
[scoTT leaves the room, putting out the 
light, and locking the door behind 
him. The stage is again in utter dark- 
ness. 
JOE. How's the head, Jack.^ 
JACK, [crying out miserably,] Why can't they 
let us alone at night .^^ 

JOE. Precaution against accident. Get back 
to sleep, kid. 

[There is a moment's silence. Suddenly, 
tearing the heaviness of the darkness, 
comes a wailing scream, hopeless, bitter, 
as of a child who is tortured unspeak- 
ably. Both DAN and joe leap to their 
feet, speaking together. 
JOE. Who's hurt? 
DAN. For God's sake — 
JACK. I've spilled my water! My water is 
spilled ! 

DAN. [with infinite relief, his voice broken from 



60 PUNISHMENT [act ii 

nervous strain.] Damn you — thought you were 
killed! 

JACK, [wailing.] Might as well be! Might 
as well murder me in cold blood. I'll die with- 
out water. I'm sick . . . sick. I need water! 

JOE. [gently.] How did you do it, old man? 

JACK. I got turned round. Hit it with my 
foot and tipped it over. Thought it was at my 
head, and reached for it. And then I hit the cup 
with my foot. [His voice rises uncertainly.] It's 
all spilled . . . it's all spilled! [The tin cup 
rattles on the iron floor.] My cup of water . . . 
I want water ... I want water now! 

JOE. Wish I could get you mine. 

DAN. [snapping.] Well, you can't! 

JACK, [quickly; feverishly.] I've got to have 
water. I can feel it on the floor. [His voice 
flames up again in delirium.] I'll take my shirt 
and throw it over his head! . . . There's 
water out there. ... I can see it ... a 
whole pond . . . [He goes to bars and clutches 
them as he stares into the black corridor.] and — 
it's cool. . . . Oh, please! . . . I'll throw 
my bucket at him . . . while he's cursing me 
I'll get his gun ... if I only had one swal- 
low . . . just one . . . it's on the floor . . . 
in drops . . . but when the keeper comes 
I'll . . . ah-h-h! 



ACT ii] PUNISHMENT 61 

JOE. [briskly,] You're a sick boy, Jack. 

JACK, [wildly,] I ain't so sick I can't put it 
over on him when he comes with his can of 
water. You wait. I'll put it over on all of them. 
They think they'll starve me to death. I'll 
show 'em! I'll show the whole lot. Casey 
too, Dan ... I don't care if he is a friend 
of yours . . . he's a damned . . . I'll get 
water. . . . I'll just take my bucket and throw 
it at the keeper ... he won't be looking for 
that. [He laughs horribly.] . . . Oh, I'm sick! 

JOE. Men sicker than you have been here. 
Jack. You tell us all about it, old man. 

JACK, [speaking in gasps.] I was sick when 
Casey sent us that stuff. [Yelling.] He did send 
it, Dan! I heard the P. K. I tell you . . . 
Joe, I'm sick ... I want to go to the hospital ! 

JOE. [soothingly.] Maybe you can in the 
morning. 

JACK, [now utterly delirious begins beating with 
his cup on the iron floor. He keeps it up until the 
curtain falls. His voice rises and falls in a steady 
singsong.] Kill me, will you.^ Wait . . . you 
wait. Wait till you come in. You won't have 
a chance . . . not a chance. I'll jump at you, 
and . . . Ah-h-h-! [His voice wails away in a 
long moan.] 

[The curtain falls for a moment to indicate^ 



62 PUNISHMENT [act ii 

jor the second time, the passing of hours. 
Silence. 
[The curtain rises to show the cells lit by the 
faint, gray light of early morning, dan 
lies flat on his back, breathing heavily. 
JACK coughs pitiably, but does not wake. 
JOE is sleeping quietly. Suddenly the 
dynamo in the power house next door 
starts up for the day. Its beat and 
throb are endless, implacable. It con- 
tinues to the end of the act. Next the 
levers opening the cell-rows in the build- 
ing above can be heard clicking. Click! 
Click! Click! Click! Four times re- 
peated; sixteen in all. Then the tramp 
of the marching men leaving their cells 
follows, rhythmically. As the sound of 
the feet dies away there is a pause, jack 
coughs. DAN grunts like an animal with 
the night-mare. The grate of a key is 
heard in the door of the jail. The bolts 
are shot back, jack coughs again, and 
JOE open his eyes and half sits up with a 
start. Keepers scott and francis come 
in. FRANCIS goes to the clothes locker 
while SCOTT goes to joe's cell, scott 
opens the door of No. 1 and leaves it 
open. 



ACT II] PUNISHMENT 63 

SCOTT. Joseph RufBo? 

JOE. [trembling with eagerness.] Number one, 
sir. Do I get out now .^ 

SCOTT. Yes. Come out. Change your 
clothes. 

[dan wakes easily and listens during the 
following, joe, followed by scott, goes 
to the anteroom where francis has put 
out his clothes on the bench, joe slips 
out of his jail suit and puts on his regular 
prison clothes. As he puts on the coat 
he sees that the disk and stripe have been 
taken off. 
joe. These aren't my clothes! I had a disk 
and a good conduct stripe. 
SCOTT, [impatiently.] Well.^ 
joe. [looking from him to francis.] They're 
gone. 

SCOTT. Say, come on now. You know you 
don't keep good conduct stripes when you go to 
the cooler. Do you think you've been on a 
Sunday school picnic? Hurry up — unless you 
want to stay here. 

[joe says nothing more, but hurries on with 
his clothes, scott goes out and joe 
follows him. francis turns out the 
light again and goes out, locking the door 
behind him. dan groans, yawns 



64 PUNISHMENT [act n 

noisily y stretches himself^ and gives a 
disgusted grunt. The door rattles, and a 
key is heard again, dan listens, scott 
comes in alone and goes at once to dan's 
cell. 
SCOTT, [to DAN through the grating.] Wake, 
Dan? 

DAN. [tensely] Sure. 

SCOTT. Visitor for you. Wait a minute. 
[While DAN sits nervously waiting, scott 
goes back to the outer door and looks out. 
SCOTT, [to someone outside.] All right, sir. 
[cASEY comes in and waits while scott 
locks the door again. Then scott takes 
him to dan's cell and unlocks the door 
which squeals on its hinges, jack 
coughs and wakes up. casey appears 
in dan's cell. 
DAN. [under his breath.] Mr. Casey. . . . 
CASEY. Shut up, Dan. [Sharply.] Anybody 
else in here, Scott .^ 

SCOTT, [who has been standing in the door of 
the cell.] Wilson — in number two; two doors 
away. 

DAN. My cell-mate. He's a pal. 
CASEY. Don't trust nobody! 
DAN. He's sick anyway. 
CASEY. Keep your eye out, Scott. 



ACT II] PUNISHMENT 65 

SCOTT. Yes, sir. 

[scoTT closes the cell door and goes and sits 
on the bench in the anteroom. During 
this JACK has wakened fully. He 
stretches slowly and painfully, holding 
his head between his hands. He reaches 
for his cup and, finding it empty, moans 
a little, remembering, casey is not 
wholly at ease. He takes out a cigar and 
chews it. 
DAN. Good of you, Mr. Casey, to. . . . 
CASEY. Nothing. Sorry you didn't get 
your pardon, Dan. [Champs on his cigar.] 
DAN. Damn hard luck. It's the Governor. 
CASEY. He's a fool. All reformers are, Dan. 
Thinks he'll turn our State into a little heaven 
on earth. 

DAN. Well — I should worry. 
CASEY, [feeling his way slowly.] Every boy 
in the ward is sore over yoUr pardon. The 
Governor made a lot of enemies when he did 
that. 

DAN. The boys have been mighty good to me. 
CASEY. They like you, Dan. [Chews steadily.] 
Don't blame 'em. Like you myself. 

DAN. Huh! [Embarrassed.] Quit your kid- 
ding. 

CASEY. Let me have my little joke — eh, Dan? 



66 PUNISHMENT [act n 

DAN. Sure thing, Mr. Casey. 

CASEY. Stopped in to see your mother the 
other day. Smart old lady, Dan. And that 
girl, Maizy — some kid! 

DAN. [eagerly.] Maizy's like her mother — 
quick. 

CASEY, [leading up to his point,] Getting to 
be quite a woman, the little scrap. Made me a 
cup of tea, she did! 

DAN. [heavily.] Casey, I ain't seen Maizy 
in fourteen months. 

CASEY. Well, she's grown, I'll bet, in that 
time so you'd hardly know her. [He plays with 
dan's emotion.] You won't see her for some 
time either, I'm thinking. 

DAN. I'll serve out the rest of my bit, I 
guess . . . there'll be no chance till there's a 
new administration. 

CASEY, [lowering his voice.] Dan, how'd 
you like to see the kid — well say, next week.^^ 

DAN. [staring at him.] What's the use of 
kidding me, Mr. Casey .^ 

CASEY, [raising his voice again.] I'm giving 
you straight stuff, Dan. 

[When Casey's voice rises, jack who has 
been sitting on the floor of his celly gets 
up and goes to the grating in his door. 
He listens. 



ACT ii] PUNISHMENT 67 

JACK. Joe, did you say something? 

[scoTT springs from his bench and goes 
to jack's door, casey and dan are 
tense and silent. 
SCOTT. Here, you. Shut your noise. RuflSo 
went upstairs long ago. 

JACK. I heard someone talking to Dan. 

[casey stands with his finger on his lips. 
SCOTT. You're off your nut. You're hearing 
things. How could anyone be talking to Dan.^ 
JACK, [pausing an instant] Dan! You been 
talking.^ 

[dan hesitates a moment, casey makes 
violent signs for him to say No. 
DAN. [blurts out.] You're dreaming, Jack. 
Joe's gone. 

SCOTT. You lie down there and mind your 
own business! 

[casey goes on talking to dan in dumb 
show for a moment, jack lies down 
again slowly, unconvinced, and still 
listening, dan's face as he listens to 
CASEY, shows surprise and then frank 
incredulity, and finally, utter disbeliefs 
as CASEY tries to convince him of the 
truth of what he is saying. 
DAN. Don't con me, Mr. Casey ! 
CASEY. I speak truth! The boys say to 



68 PUNISHMENT [act n 

me — Dan is a friend of ours. He's a good 
friend, the kind that would do anything for a 
pal. We want to help him. You can help him, 
Mr. Casey, they say to me. 

DAN. [much moved.] They're good friends 
to me, all right. 

CASEY. Help Dan, they say. The Governor 
won't give him no pardon because he's a stink- 
ing reformer. Well — let's get him out another 
way then. 

[dan's eyes grow wide. He clenches his 

fists. 

CASEY. Dan — what I say is the straight 

goods. If you'll take a chance, and beat it, 

out of this, you'll get all the help you need — 

inside and out ! 

DAN. The guards. . . . Oh, I couldn't 
make it! 

CASEY. Sure you could. Buck up, man! 
DAN. [his voice rising.] How could I.^ 
JACK, [springing upright.] Dsm? 

[At a sign from casey, dan answers. 
DAN. What's yours, Jack.^ 

[scoTT has again risen from his bench, but 
this time he goes^ not to jack, but to 
CASEY. He opens the door of dan's 
cell, and he and casey talk a moment 
in low tones. 



ACT ii] PUNISHMENT 69 

JACK. Ain't you been talking, Dan? 

DAN. Pipe-dreams, old man. Lie down and 
forget it. 

[scoTT leaves casey and goes to jack's 
celU where he speaks to Jack through 
the grating. His attitude has changed 
to one of the greatest friendliness. 

SCOTT. Say, kid, what do you want most in 
the world .^ 

jack, [eagerly.] Water! 

SCOTT. Hold on then. 

[scoTT goes out to the bench near which 
stands a can of water and the keeper's 
funnel. He takes these up and goes 
back to jack's cell. Meanwhile the 
whispered conversation between casey 
and DAN goes on. scott thrusts the 
end of his funnel through jack's 
grating. 

JACK, [hoarsely.] Water! 

SCOTT, [soothingly.] Go to it, Wilson. 

JACK scrambles for his cup which he holds 
to the mouth of the funnel, casey con- 
tinues to urge dan in an indistinguish- 
able tone. JACK holds his cup which 
SCOTT fills and refills while jack 
drinks. 

DAN. [in a low voice.] But I work inside. 



70 PUNISHMENT [act ii 

CASEY. I'll fix that. And I'll make it right 
with — [his voice drops again.] 

[There is a moment's pause; the heat and 

throb of the motor is the only sound. 

DAN is tense. 

JACK, [with a long, quivering breath,] I 

can't . . . any more. [He staggers across the 

cell into a corner, where he slips to the floor,] 

[dan has not moved, scott goes grinning 
back to the bench, casey loatches dan 
intently. He waits for a moment. 
jack is quiet, dan's breath comes in 
long gasps. 
CASEY, [keenly,] Well, Dan? 
DAN. [lifting his head slowly and lookirig 
CASEY straight in the eyes. He draws a long 
breath.] I'll do it, Mr. Casey! 

[casey's face lights with triumph. He 
slaps DAN on the back, dan's face is 
set for battle. 



THE CURTAIN FALLS 



ACT III 

rHE Warden's office. Right are two long 
French windows. Back is a door, the only 
one, and Lefty a safe and letter files. Center is the 
Warden'' s large, flat top desk, with a swivel desk- 
chair behind it. Doivn stage Left is a wash-stand, 
around which is a great leather screen. This screen 
serves to hide the wash-stand from the people on the 
stage, but not from the audience. The room is 
cold looking with an indefinable air of menace. 
From the windows can be seen a bit of the prison 
yard, and a corner of the cell-block. 

CALVIN is standing near the window looking 
intently into the yard. As the curtain rises he 
turns away nervously and paces the room once 
or twice. The telephone on his desk rings and 
he jumps to answer it. 

CALVIN. Yes? [His voice changes — all the 
life leaves it.] Tell him I can see no one to- 
night. 

[He walks back to the window impatiently. 
There is the sound of someone coming 
outside the door and he listens anxiously 
71 



72 PUNISHMENT [act hi 

until the footsteps die away. TheUy 
with a long sigh of disappointment^ he 
seats himself at his desk. He takes the 
telephone. 
CALVIN. The Principal Keeper. 

[There is a knock at the door and calvin 
leaps in his chair. 
CALVIN. Come in! 

[The door opens to show casey standing 
on the threshold, calvin frowns^ hut 
CASEY without waiting for an invitation, 
enters. 
CALVIN, [turning back to the telephone.] Is 
Mr. King with the search party .^ Well, if the 
orders for to-morrow are on his desk, please 
send them in to me at once. I'll sign them now. 
[He hesitates, and then adds tensely.] No news.^ 
[cASEY is all attention although he seems 
to he engrossed with the cold cigar he 
is chewing. 
CALVIN. Thanks. [He hangs up the receiver 
and turns to casey.] Mr. Casey, I — 

CASEY, [breaking in affably.] They told me 
you were busy, but I said I'd come right in. 
[calvin stares at him in growing amazement 
and anger.] Thought you'd be glad of diversion. 
Ain't all roses being Warden of this shebang, 
is it? 



ACT III] PUNISHMENT 73 

CALVIN, [icily.] No. 
CASEY. We-e-U. . . . 

CALVIN, [in a burst of cold rage.] Mr. Casey, 
by what right do you enter this room? When 
you telephoned I refused to see you. That 
still holds good. I cannot see anyone to- 
night. 

CASEY, [grinning.] Hospitable, ain't you? 
CALVIN. If your business is very impor- 
Lanx. • • • 

[cASEY starts to speaky but calvin cuts 
him of. 
CALVIN. I can't listen now. It may be that 
later in the evening I can give you a mo- 
ment. 

CASEY. You're the boss, Warden, you're 
the boss. I'll drop in later. Oh re- voir! 

[He moves smoothly to the door, and with a 
wave of his hand, vanishes. When the 
door has closed behind casey there is a 
muttered ejaculation from calvin. He 
sits at the desk, glancing idly through 
the papers that strew the top, and then 
with a long sigh sits for a moment with 
his head in his hands. 
From outside there comes a low rumbling, 
the banging of metal, the shouts of 
keepers, and the yells of prisoners. 



74 PUNISHMENT [act hi 

The noise grows rapidly in volume 
until it is a cursing, screaming pan- 
demonium. Almost before it reaches 
Calvin's consciousness, a sharp knock 
at the door brings him to his feet. 

CALVIN. Come! 

[king throws the door open. The two 
men stare at each other for a moment. 
KING is evidently much excited, but 
his face looks sullen. 

CALVIN. They've found him? 

KING. He's in his cell. 

CALVIN. Where was he.^ 

KING. Not five minutes outside the walls. 

CALVIN. Man, he's been gone for hours! 

KING, [with some resentment] He was asleep. 

CALVIN. Asleep ! 

KING, [disgusted.] Drunk — in a hollow tree. 
[lower.] The poor fool. 

CALVIN, [thoughtfully, with a sharp look at 
KING.] Drunk. 

[The disturbance outside dies slowly away. 
From the moment of king's entrance 
CALVIN becomes active again. 

CALVIN. [with sudden decision.] I shall 
thrash this out now. 

KING. It's late, Warden. 

CALVIN, [looking at his watch.] I'll take time 



ACT III] PUNISHMENT 75 

for something to eat. It's nine o'clock now. 
Did you have dinner.^ [king nods.] I didn't. 
Is Moyne sober yet? 

KING. Yes — he'd slept most of it off. But 
it's— 

CALVIN. The sooner we examine him, the 
less time he has to cook up a story. [Keenly.] 
A confession will save trouble all around. 

KING. He was getting away fast enough. 

CALVIN, [suddenly.] Where did he get his 
whiskey.^ 
KING, [blank and then defiant] I don't know. 

CALVIN, [in his old brisk tone.] Have him 
here in twenty minutes. And his cell-mate — 
[hesitates.] 

KING. Wilson. 

CALVIN, [watching king.] And the keeper 
in charge of the road-gang from which Moyne 
escaped. 

KING, [swallowing.] I'll find out who it was, 
sir. 

CALVIN, [swiftly.] Don't you know? 

KING. I think it was Scott. 

CALVIN, [without emotion.] We shall want 
Scott. 

[There is a pause, calvin thinks hard. 
KING shifts from one foot to the other, 
stealing glances at his superior. There 



76 PUNISHMENT [act hi 

is a knock at the door, calvin goes to 
it and receives from someone outside 
the orders he has asked for. He keeps 
them in his hand. 
CALVIN, [through the door as he closes it.] 
Thank you. [To king.] Who caught Moyne.^ 
KING. Francis. 

CALVIN. Bring Francis too. [Glances at the 
papers he is holding.] I'll get these orders signed 
for you so that nothing need interrupt us if 
the examination keeps us late. That's all. 
[He watches king as he goes toward the door.] 
Better eat something. King. This business 
has fagged us all. 

[king goes out with a nod. calvin looks 
at the papers on his desk. He takes up 
the telephone without sitting down. 
calvin. [in a tired voice.] The kitchen. . . . 
Martin.^ How soon can you have something 
for me to eat? Oh, then I'll come at once — put 
it on the table. What? Yes, you can leave 
on the six-thirty train. Come in and say good- 
bye before you go. I shall be up most of the 
night, I think. 

[calvin glances again at the papers on his 
desky and after a momenfs thought^ 
grimly gathers them all up and piits 
them into the desk drawer which he locks. 



ACT in] PUNISHMENT 77 

CALVIN leaves the room and there is a 
moments silence. 
There is a knock at the door, twice repeated. 
The door opens and casey slides in. 
He goes to the desk and looks over it, and 
finding nothing, takes a key from his vest 
pocket and unlocks the drawer. He finds 
the papers with a grunt of delight which 
changes to one of disgust as he sees 
that they are still unsigned. He swears 
under his breath and glances over the 
desk again only to turn away disap- 
pointed. There is a sudden knock at 
the door, casey has a moment of panic. 
Then he goes over and slips in behind 
the big screen. The knock is repeated, 
and the door opens to admit king who 
hesitates upon the threshold, casey, 
who has been peering through a crack 
in the screen, now comes out. 

CASEY. Calm yourself. 

KING. You'd better keep out of this. 

CASEY. Where's the Warden? 

KING. Eating something. 

CASEY. Then keep your shirt on. He won't 
have an appetite long. Here's what I came after. 
Had to use your key to get 'em. [He motions 
towards the papers which he still holds.] They 



78 PUNISHMENT [act hi 

aren't signed yet, worse luck. It's a good lot — 
several in pencil — easy to — [he makes a gesture 
of erasure.] 

KING, [irritably. ] I wish you'd let 'em alone. 
Ain't it bad enough to have Dan Moyne caught.'^ 

CASEY. I want those orders. As soon as he 
signs 'em and gives them to you — ^you slip them 
over to me. 

[king starts to protest. 

CASEY. Oh, your hide's safe enough. Dates 
will be changed as well as — other things. You 
can say you mislaid them in the excitement. 

KING. You're safely out of this — 

CASEY. No safer than you. Nobody can 
touch us, King. You hand the orders over. 
That's all you have to do. His papers may be 
straight now, but a little changing will make 'em 
incriminating enough to damn a saint. Then 
we have our high and mighty Warden by the 
neck. [He makes an unpleasant gesture of pulling 
a noose tight under his left ear, and chuckles.] 
Violent deaths run in the family. Son killed 
himself, didn't he.^ [king nods.] Maybe Pa 
will follow suit! 

KING. I don't want to take such long chances. 

CASEY, [impatiently.] Well, I got an order 
for them, if that makes you feel any better. 
[He takes from his pocket a paper in a blue 



ACT III] PUNISHMENT 79 

envelope which king reads, casey grins.] You 
notice it don't specify what papers. I can take 
any I want — and with authority. 

KING, [brightening.] If you give the Warden 
this [tapping letter] he'll have to give you the 
papers himself. 

CASEY, [taking the letter and putting it back in 
his pocket.] I'll give him the letter after I've got 
the papers in my pocket. 

KING. But it's so much easier to do the other 
thing. 

CASEY. The fancy Warden is getting foxy. 
He might have the originals w^itnessed to or 
some such nonsense. [Suddenly severe.] You do 
as you're told! 

KING, [sulkily.] Oh, very well. [Flaring up 
again.] You don't seem to realize that Moyne's 
getting caught puts us in the hell of a 
hole! 

CASEY, [grunts.] Dan Is safe enough. 

[cASEY goes over to the desk and replaces the 
papers in the drawer^ leisurely locking it 
again. 

KING. He could give the whole thing away 
like that, [Snaps his fingers.] 

CASEY, [coolly.] He thinks I'm a pal of his. 
I took care of that when I picked him for the 
job. . . . Dan won't squeal on a pal. 



80 PUNISHMENT [act m 

KING. You can't tell what the skunk will do. 
I wish he'd made his getaway. 

CASEY, [assenting.] He was a fool to drink 
the whole bottle. It was put there to give him 
nerve, not to get soused on. 

KING. He'd been in the cooler for a week 
with nothing much to eat. 

CASEY. Hard luck. I wish he'd made it. 

KING, [flatly.] Well, I'm damned nerv- 
ous. 

CASEY. Oh, come on. Don't fret about Dan. 
He's the real goods; hates the Warden like 
poison. He won't squeal. And when those 
orders [pointing to desk] get up to the Chief — 
good-night, Mr. Calvin! 

[king shakes his head in uncertainty. 
CASEY moves to him and puts a hand on 
his shoulder. 

CASEY. Cheer up, man! You hand me the 
papers and I'll leave the note as I go. He knows 
I'm waiting to see him. I told him so myself so 
he wouldn't think there was anything phony 
about it if he heard I was here. It's up to you 
to get me those orders before I have to make 
good on my bluff. Then our tracks are covered 
all right. 

[With a final slap on the back he slips to the 
door, looks out, and goes. 



ACT III] PUNISHMENT 81 

CASEY, [as he exits.] I'll wait for you in the 
outside office. 

[king growls to himself when the door has 
closed on casey. He walks over to the 
window and stands looking out into the 
dark yard. The rumble and roar of the 
men rises again suddenly from the cell- 
block. There are footsteps outside the 
door. KING jumps nervously and crosses 
quickly to a chair where he sits waiting. 
The door opens to admit calvin. 

CALVIN, [briefly.] Ready. 

KING, [moving his head toward the growing 
uproar.] They're bringing him. 

CALVIN. Do you think there will be trouble.^ 

KING. Men are in a bad state. You're too 
easy on them. 

[calvin makes an enigmatical sound, with 
a swift glance at king. The noise out- 
side seems to come nearer and nearer. 
calvin goes to his desk and seats him- 
self. KING goes over to the window again 
and stands looking out, but his eyes fur- 
tively seek CALVIN who, however, is not 
paying the slightest attention to him. 
Suddenly the riot outside ceases. There 
is a moment of silence and then a quick 
knock on the door, king goes at once to 



82 PUNISHMENT [act m 

the door and throws it open, dan 
MOYNE, JACK WILSON, Keepers scott 
and FRANCIS enter. They stop in a 
group in front of the Warden's desk. 
At a gesture from calvin, king brings a 
chair to the desk beside the Warden and 
seats himself. 
CALVIN. Daniel Moyne, step forward. 

[dan does so. He is haggard and un- 
kempt, and at first his eyes droop, almost 
as if he were in a stupor. As the situa- 
tion grows more tense, this apathy is 
succeeded by a resentful sullenness which 
grows more and more vigorous. He is 
like a small boy who has resolved to 
brazen it out. 
CALVIN. Moyne, you are accused of trying to 
escape. You know, as every inmate of this 
prison knows, that attempted escape is no hght 
offense. You'll be given a chance to defend 
yourself. What term are you serving.^ 

[dan does not answer, jack, who is as 
pale and thinner than dan, listens 
alertly to all that goes on. calvin 
turns inquiringly to King. 
KING. Six years, I think. 
CALVIN. Moyne.^ 
DAN. Six to twenty-four. 



ACT III] PUNISHMENT 83 

CALVIN. [startled.] You are serving the 
minimum sentence for your offense — six years — 
and the maximum is twenty-four years? 

[dan growls assent. 

CALVIN. Do you know that when a man serv- 
ing less than his maximum sentence tries to 
escape, he is compelled by law to serve out his 
full term — in your case twenty-four years — and 
that the County Court may add several years 
to this at their discretion — as punishment.^ 

[There is a pause, dan makes no reply ^ 
but his hands clench and his body 
stiffens. 

CALVIN. That's the law. . . . Francis. 

[FRANCIS steps forward. 

CALVIN. You found Moyne.^ 

FRANCIS. Yes, sir. 

CALVIN. Where? 

FRANCIS. Hill-top to the north, sir. 

CALVIN. What was he doing? 

FRANCIS, [with a smile.] Sleeping, Warden. 
He was in a big hollow tree in a stupor, sir, with 
an empty whisky bottle in his hand. 

CALVIN, [to KING.] Where have repairs been 
made on the road? 

KING. At the foot of the hill. 

CALVIN, [to FRANCIS.] How far from the tree 
is that? 



84 PUNISHMENT [act hi 

FRANCIS. Two hundred yards, I should 
say. 

CALVIN. Thank you. [to dan.] What were 
you doing in that tree, Moyne.^ 

[No answer. 

CALVIN. When did you come out of the 
punishment cells .^ 

KING. A week. . . . 

CALVIN, [stopping king.] Moyne.^ 

DAN. Week yesterday. 

CALVIN. You were put on the road-gang at 
once.^ [dan nods.] Your idea, wasn't it, 
King.^ 

KING, [uneasily,] He was in bad shape from 
the cooler. I had no idea. . . . 

CALVIN, [smoothly.] Naturally not. [To dan.] 
How did you get to the tree from the foot of 
the hill.^ [Pause.] How did you get to the 
tree.f^ 

DAN. Hid in the long grass. When the rest 
of the bunch had gone inside I crawled to the 
tree. 

CALVIN. No one saw you? 

DAN. No. 

CALVIN. WTiere was the keeper.^ 

[scoTT moves slightly. 

DAN. There. 

CALVIN. What? 



ACT III] PUNISHMENT 85 

DAN. He was there. 

CALVIN. Couldn't he see you.^ 

DAN. He might! [He grins.] 

[At this a stir runs through the room. 
KING carefully avoids looking at anyone. 
SCOTT shifts from one foot to the other. 
JACK moves toward dan. calvin tight- 
ens. 
CALVIN. Why did you go to the tree.^ 

[Silence. 
CALVIN. You wanted to hide so that you 
could escape after dark, didn't you.^ 

[jack half speaks^ and the others listen 
closely. 
DAN. [uncertainly.] No. . . . 
CALVIN. Then why did you go to the 
tree.f^ 

DAN. [gulping.] To get the whisky. 
CALVIN. To get the whisky hidden in the 
tree. [Pause.] And then.^ 

DAN. [with relief.] I drank it. That's all I 
remember till — he — found me. 

CALVIN. How did you know the whisky was 
in the tree.^ 

DAN. [seeing the trap.] I didn't ! 
CALVIN. You just said you went to the tree 
to get the whisky. Isn't that true.^ . . . 
Where did the whisky come from? 



86 PUNISHMENT [act hi 

DAN. [doggedly.] I don't know. 
CALVIN. Then you went to the tree not know- 
ing it was there .^ 

[dan glances from side to side, but makes 
no answer. 
CALVIN. Come, Moyne, answer. 
DAN. I don't know. 

CALVIN. Either you knew the whisky was 
there or you didn't. 

DAN. I've told you all I know. 
CALVIN. If you did not know the whisky was 
there, you must have gone to the tree to hide 
until you could escape. If you did know it was 
there. . . . 

DAN. I've told you all I know. 
CALVIN. You won't answer any further ques- 
tions.^ Then step back. 

[dan steps backy and everyone, except 
CALVIN, draws a long sigh of relief. 
CALVIN. Mr. Scott. 

[scoTT comes forward. His attitude is one 
of defense and defiance. 
SCOTT. Yes, sir. 

CALVIN. You were in charge of the road-gang 
from which Moyne escaped.^ 
SCOTT. Yes, sir. 

CALVIN. Did you count the men when they 
came back into the prison yard.'^ 



ACT III] PUNISHMENT 87 

SCOTT, [shaking his head.] When they passed 
into the cell-block, sir. 

CALVIN. That must have been about five 
o'clock. 

SCOTT. A few minutes after five. 
CALVIN. What did you do then.^ 
SCOTT. Reported to the Principal Keeper. 
CALVIN, [sharply.] It was six o'clock before 
the whistle blew. 

[He makes the statement sharply, yet sim- 
ply. KING shifts in his chair, dan 
glances at the keeper and then at king. 
JACK looks at CALVIN as if trying to 
read his face. There is a pause and then 
the moment passes, jack seems always 
more interested in what scott says than 
in anything else. 
CALVIN. Do you know anything about the 
whisky that Moyne says he found in the hollow 
tree? 

SCOTT. No, sir. 

CALVIN. What is your regular duty? 
SCOTT. Hall-keeper in the cell-block, sir. 
CALVIN, Were you on duty there when 
Moyne was sent to the cooler for drunkenness? 
SCOTT. Yes, sir. 

CALVIN, [to KING.] Nothing was ascertained 
of that whisky, King. 



88 PUNISHMENT [act hi 

SCOTT, [quickly to calvin.] I knew nothing 
of that, sir, 

CALVIN, [watching him quietly.] Of course 
not. 

[calvin continues to hole for a moment 
steadily at scott, who feels that he has 
made a mistake and is consequently un- 
comfortable. KING scowls at SCOTT. 
calvin looks at jack who is watching 
SCOTT intently. 
calvin. [abruptly.] Wilson. 

[jack steps forward, and scott drops 
back. 
CALVIN. You are Moyne's cell-mate.^ 
jack, [rather breathlessly.] Yes, sir. 
CALVIN. How long have you locked-in the 
same cell? 

JACK. Ever since I came here, sir; six weeks. 

CALVIN. Nothing you say will be used 

against you in any way, Wilson. I want the 

truth. Did you and Moyne ever talk of escape.^ 

JACK. No, sir. Dan was expecting a pardon, 

sir, — 

CALVIN. And when you were together in 
the dark cells, after his pardon had been refused.^ 
JACK. No, sir. 

CALVIN. And when you came out of punish- 
ment? 



ACT III] PUNISHMENT 89 

JACK. I went into the hospital. 
CALVIN. Oh, so you didn't go back to your 
own cell.^ 

JACK. No, sir. 

CALVIN. Is there any information you can 
give me relative to Moyne's being found in 
the hollow tree.'^ 

[jack has been showing throughout this 
scene a restless^ half desire to speak. 
Now he gulps andy looking at dan, 
hesitates. 
jack. No, sir. 

[king draws a breath of evident relief. 

SCOTT too, is pleased, dan smiles at 

JACK. CALVIN speaks sharply. 

CALVIN. Very well, Wilson. [He glances 

around the room.] This is merely a beginning. 

I shall know more — by the time I have finished 

with Moyne. 

[dan shudders involuntarily at the menace 
in Calvin's tone. A look passes between 
KING and SCOTT. JACK sees it. He 
glances at dan who is steeling himself. 
Suddenly jack makes up his mind and 
moves forward. 
JACK. Mr. Calvin! 

[The change in his tone electrifies the 
room. 



90 PUNISHMENT [act hi 

CALVIN. Well? 

JACK. Can I see you alone, sir.^ 
CALVIN. No. Anything you have to say 
must be said here and now. What is it? 

[jack hesitates. He does not like this, hut 
he feels that he has gone too far to retreat. 
jack. I'm fond of Dan, sir. He's a good pal. 
I want him to get a square deal. 
CALVIN. He will be treated fairly. 
JACK. He ain't been, sir. Somebody is trying 
to double-cross Dan. 

CALVIN. What do you mean? 
JACK. Dan is getting a dirty deal, [calvin 
loohs up sharply,] Oh, it ain't you, sir. I don't 
know who it is, but. . . . [He hesitates, puzzled.] 
CALVIN, [impatiently.] Do you know some- 
thing or are you guessing? 

JACK. I ain't guessing. Somebody is double- 
crossing Dan. 

[Again the thrill runs around the room. 

KING is trying to make out just what 

JACK knows. SCOTT is very uneasy. 

JACK is wholly self-possessed. 

CALVIN, [impressed.] What makes you think 

that? 

JACK. Two things. 

[Suddenly calvin sees jack for the first 
time, not as a convict, hut as an intelli- 



ACT III] PUNISHMENT 91 

gent human being. He speaks to him 
in a new tone. 

CALVIN. Will you tell me what they are? 

JACK. When we was in the cooler, somebody 
came to see Dan. . . . 

CALVIN, What! 

JACK. Dan and the keeper pretended there 
was nobody there. But I heard them both — 
Dan's voice and the other. The other voice was 
different — I'd never heard it before. 

CALVIN, [leaning forward.] Wilson. You 
say that Moyne had a visitor while he was in 
the punishment cells .^ 

[king squirms^ and scott is restless. 

JACK. Yes, sir. 

dan. [in a quick undertone.] Aw — you was 
loony from sickness. 

JACK, [to CALVIN.] Dan kept telling me I 
was queer in the head, sir, but I know I heard 
them talking. . . • And the cell door opened 
and shut. 

CALVIN, [to KING.] Would it be possible for 
Moyne to have a visitor in the punishment cells. f^ 

KING. No, Warden. Keeper, probably. 

[cALViN turns hack to jack, jack shakes 
his head. 

JACK. The keeper came with him — to let 
him in. 



92 PUNISHMENT [act hi 

CALVIN, [pleased, nods.] A keeper would 
have let himself in. You are sure there was a 
keeper there — beside the other? 

JACK, [involuntarily turning to scott.] Why 
yes, sir. He gave me water to drink while 
they were talking. . . . Keepers don't give you 
water for nothing, Warden. I'd been sick all 
night, and begging for water. 

[scott stares furiously at jack, calvin 
turns and looks at scott.] 

CALVIN. Keeper Scott was on duty there .'^ 
[With bitter emphasis.] You move about a good 
deal, Scott, [scott starts to speak.] The cell- 
block, the road-gang, and now the jail. 

SCOTT, [taking a chance,] He was out of 
his head. Warden — raving. I gave him water 
because he was making threats. 

KING, [too quickly.] Wilson was a sick man. 
Warden, when we took him out of the jail. 

CALVIN, [to jack; sarcastically.] The con- 
sensus of opinion, Wilson, is that you were 
raving. However, I want to hear all you have 
to say. It is your opinion that Moyne had a 
visitor who was not a keeper. Another pris- 
oner.^ 

JACK. Only Dan and me was in the jail, sir. 
RuflBo had just been taken out. . . . And 
Dan didn't talk like he would to a pal. 



ACT III] PUNISHMENT 93 

CALVIN. Then this call took place on the 
morning of Ruffio's release from punishment? 
JACK. Yes, sir. 

CALVIN. At what time do you think? 
JACK. Early — about six-thirty. 
CALVIN, [startled.] What — in the morning? 
[jack nods. KING and scott grow in 
"perturbation. 
CALVIN. You think that someone from out- 
side the prison saw Moyne at that hour? 

JACK. Yes, sir. And I think it's the same 
man that sent Dan a present of whisky to make 
him drunk. I told Dan then, and Joe Ruffio 
told him, that man wants something. 
CALVIN. Wants what? 

JACK. Well — if Dan made his getaway, 
you'd look pretty cheap, wouldn't you, Mr. 
Calvin? Is the whole world so dead for you 
that nobody wouldn't like to see you lose this 
job? You wouldn't be the first Warden that 
got framed up and jolted out of office. 

[king and scott are genuinely and 
frankly frightened, dan has become 
alert. He is a different man from the 
sullen^ dull creature who came into the 
room. He is also deeply enraged with 

JACK. 

CALVIN. You mean — ? 



94 PUNISHMENT [act hi 

JACK. Dan did try to beat it, Warden, But 
it was a plain frame-up — and he's not to blame. 
Somebody else got him into it. And they don't 
just say to him, here's something for you if you 
make your getaway; they pretend to be friends 
with him, and help him. . . . But w^hat they 
want is something for themselves ! 

DAN. [in a loWy tense voice.] Shut up, Jack. 
Keep out of this ! 

CALVIN, [to JACK, convinced by his earnestness.] 
Do you know who this man is.^^ 

DAN. [to JACK again.] Jack! [to calvin in 
an appealing tone.] He was sick, sir, and when 
the keeper slipped us the whisky — 

CALVIN, [cutting in.] The keeper, eh.^ 

[dan gasps, scott cringes, king glares 

at DAN. 

dan. [frightened, and on the defensive.] It 
ain't the first time a keeper has done a man a 
favor — and got him a bit of — 

JACK, [flashing at him.] It's the first time 
he ever gave it to us! And [pointing to scott] 
he knows who sent it. 

[scott's guilt is written all over his face. 
There is a moment's pause, king half 
rises from his chair. 
scott. I do not! [Snarling at jack.] You 
damned rat ! 



ACT III] PUNISHMENT 95 

CALVIN, [whirling on scott.] You be quiet! 
[to JACK.] We'll see. [He takes up the 'phone 
and says into it.] I wish to consult the General 
Register — the Visitors' Bool^. Yes, here, at 
once. [He rises^ and going to the filing cabinet, 
unlocks it, takes out a drawer, and looks through 
the cards.] RuflSo was released from punish- 
ment at six o'clock on the morning of the 
twelfth. [He smiles at jack grimly.] You were 
sane enough to know the time of day, Wilson. 
JACK. Yes, sir. 

[There is a knock at the door, calvin mo- 
fions to FRANCIS and goes hack to his 
desk. The room is tense and silent. 
FRANCIS goes quickly to the door and 
opens it far enough for him to take in the 
great Prison Register which is handed 
to him from someone outside. He takes 
it at once to calvin. king and scott 
look at each other, scott looks as if 
he would like to run. king scowls at 
him. CALVIN opens the book in silence. 
He runs his finger down the page while 
they all watch him. scott still fur- 
tively looks at the door, king is white 
with rage at scott and jack, and with 
a great uneasiness for his own skin. 
calvin's finger stops, and his face 



96 PUNISHMENT [act hi 

shows that he has found something. 
He reaches for the telephone and then 
hesitates. Then with a sharp glance 
at JACK, he takes a pencil and writes 
on a card. 
CALVIN. Mr. Francis. 

[FRANCIS goes to him and calvin in an 
inaudible voice gives him instructions. 
KING, who has been trying hard to listen 
to CALVIN, jumps suddenly, francis 
nods and goes to the door. 
CALVIN, [to FRANCIS.] At once, please. 
FRANCIS. Yes, sir. [Exits.] 

[king rises with great nonchalance. 
KING. Warden, if you'll excuse me a mo- 
ment. . . . 

CALVIN. I will detain you only a few minutes 
longer, Mr. King. 

[king sits down again. He waits closely. 
There is a moment of silence. Then 
outside, Casey's voice is heard, king 
rises again that he may attract casey's 
attention when he enters and warn him. 
DAN and CALVIN watch jack who has 
moved forward at the sound of casey's 
voice. 
CASEY, [outside.] I dropped in to see him a 
little earlier, but I know how it is with busy 



ACT III] PUNISHMENT 97 

men. I'm busy myself sometimes. Shall we 
go right in.'^ I suppose this escape now. . . . 

[FRANCIS throws the door open, casey 
comes in. For a moment casey is non- 
plussed by all the people he sees, king 
makes a desperate effort to attract his 
attention^ but fails to do so. jack 
searches Casey's face and finds it un- 
familiar. CALVIN and dan still watch 

JACK. 

CASEY, [with unfailing sang froid.] Decided 
to see me after all, Warden? 

[jack half takes a breath and nods a little. 

CALVIN waits. DAN tums to CASEY 

as if he would shout to him to run. 
CASEY, [with a chuckle.] You seem to be 
having a regular show-down. 

[jack whirls to calvin. The words seem 
to be torn out of him. 
JACK. That's the voice, Warden! Who is 
that man.^ 

[There is again a slight pause, calvin 
turns to CASEY who stares at jack in 
amazement, king sinks back into his 
chair, dan makes a gesture of despair 
and anger. 
CALVIN, [smiling^ and with his finger on a 
line in the Register.] Yes, come in, Mr. Casey. 



98 PUNISHMENT [act hi 

I want to ask about a visit you paid Daniel 
Moyne, in the punishment cells, on [consults 
Register] the twelfth of this month, at six-thirty 
in the morning. 

[A slight flicker passes over casey's face. 
JACK looks at DAN iu triumph. At 
a signal from calvin, francis closes 
the door behind casey and stands in 
front of it. 



THE CURTAIN FALLS 



ACT IV 

nr'HE Wardert's office, unchanged, except in 
^ time. It is just before dawn the next morn- 
ing. At the opening of the action the window 
spaces show black, but during the act they grad- 
ually lighten, until at the close, the sun rises. 

CALVIN and casey sit on opposite sides of the 
desk. CALVIN is alert and dogged, though evi- 
dently somewhat baffled. His face is set and grim. 
CASEY chews his cold cigar with an affectation of 
boredom and easy sarcasm. After a moment of 
silence^ casey yawns. 

CASEY, [stretching.] If you're going to make 
folks spend the night here, Warden, you ought 
to have a trundle bed in the office. [He slides 
back in his chair.] 

[cALViN makes no reply. Another silence. 
CASEY yawns again. 
CASEY. Nov/ in some men I'd take it hard. 
[cALViN, although he watches casey, seems 
far away, casey looks at him sharply, 
grins, and takes a match from the box 
which stands in an ash tray on the desk. 



100 PUNISHMENT [act iv 

With seeming nonchalance he strikes the 
match suddenly on the box in an effort 
to startle calvin to attention. As he 
does this the telephone bell rings sharply. 
CASEY leaps in his chair and the match 
goes out. calvin snatches the instru- 
ment. 
CALVIN, [into the ^ phone.] Yes? Oh — yes, 
Martin, to-day. Stop on your way out. You 
can take the early train. [He works the hook up 
and down.] Where's Mr. Francis.^ He's dis- 
covered nothing yet.^^ 

[As CALVIN returns the receiver to the 
hooky the tense offhandedness with which 
CASEY has been listening, vanishes. Un- 
consciously he reveals great relief. The 
strain has been telling , even upon him, and 
the result has been to exaggerate his ease. 
CASEY. Come now, Warden, throw down 
your cards. You're up against it. Why should 
Dan Moyne confess when he ain't got anything 
to tell.^ He tried to make a getaway. He didn't 
pull it oflf. You know that as well as I do. And 
you know that there's nothing in that crazy 
story of Wilson's ! 

CALVIN, [snapping.] I intend to find out just 
how much there is in it before morning. 

CASEY, [looking at his watch.] My train 



ACT iv] PUNISHMENT 101 

leaves at six-thirty, [calvin scowls,] Come, 
Warden, you can't keep me here forever. Last 
night I wanted to show you that you were sus- 
pecting me without any reason. You must see 
by this time that I was right. Better drop the 
whole matter. 

[calvin looks at him in unmoved silence. 
CASEY. You've got your runaway. What 
more do you want.^ If you must have blood, 
give him a little taste of discipline. 

[calvin, his face more stern than ever, 
looks steadily at casey, who becomes 
annoyed under this silent inspection. 
CASEY. Don't start something you can't fin- 
ish. Warden, [calvin moves, but does not look 
away.] You can see you aren't fitted for this job. 
You take things too hard. Why not step out 
while you got the chance .^^ We'd be glad to — 
[casey is leaning over the desk in friendly 
enthusiasm. There is a sudden knock 
at the door and calvin leaps to open it. 
MARTIN, dressed in his new suit of 
citizen's clothes stands on the threshold. 
. MARTIN. Came to say good-bye, Warden. 

calvin. Good-bye, Martin. My good wishes 
go with you. 

MARTIN, [his face aglow.] This is a great day 
for me, sir. I've often dreamed of the day when 



102 PUNISHMENT [act iv 

I'd leave, but I never thought it would be like 
this. 

CALVIN. I'm glad of that. 

MARTIN. You've always had friends, War- 
den. You don't know what it means to me to 
have a friend like Mrs. Calvin, sir. She's a saint 
from God, sir, begging your pardon. Warden. 
[cALviN is slightly embarrassed. 

]ViARTiN. I'm going to a good job, sir. I'm 
going straight. I couldn't go wrong with her 
trusting me. Say — often when I was alone in 
your rooms I've stood by the door looking out. 
Nobody in sight. All I had to do was to walk 
out. But when I'd put my foot over the step — 
I'd see Mrs. Calvin, smiling a little, like she 
does, sir. That's why I ain't tried to run for it 
these last two months. Warden. 

CALVIN, [thoughtfully.] I hope you'll keep 
your resolutions, Martin. 

MARTIN. Do you think I'd hurt Mrs. Calvin.^ 
It ain't my place to say so. Warden, but I'm an 
old man and you'll excuse it. I wish every man 
could go out of this prison hopeful like me. I've 
been here sixteen years, Warden. I've seen lots 
of men come and go. And I've seen more men 
go with hate than hope. 

[There is a knock at the door^ and martin 
opens it. mrs. calvin and Keeper 



ACT iv] PUNISHMENT 103 

FRANCIS stand outside, francis carries 
a small tray upon which is a pot of 
coffee and several cups. 
CALVIN. Mary! 

MRS. CALVIN. Good-morning, John. I've 
brought you coffee. 

CALVIN. You should be in bed. 
MRS. CALVIN, [shakes her head, smiling.] 
When I saw how breakfast improved Mr. Fran- 
cis — [She nods to francis who has put the tray on 
the desk. mrs. calvin sits down behind it.] 
Thank you. [There is a slight pause during which 
MRS. CALVIN glances at casey.] Mr. Casey, 
isn't it.^ 

CALVIN, [recovering himself.] I beg your 
pardon, Mary. Mrs. Calvin — Mr. Casey. 

[francis withdraws upstage, where mar- 
tin is standing, watching mrs. calvin 
in fascinated admiration, casey rises^ 
bows, and sits. 
calvin. One moment, Francis. 
CASEY, [to MRS. CALVIN.] You're a minis- 
tering angel, Mrs. Calvin, a ministering angel. 
MRS. CALVIN. Do you take sugar .^ 

[calvin has been listening to francis who 
has just been answering a question cal- 
vin put to him. Now calvin's voice 
snaps back. 



104 PUNISHMENT [act iv 

CALVIN. Use every means in your power — 
force, if necessary. 

[iviRS. CALVIN lifts her head, tensely. 
CALVIN. We must get at the truth of this one 
way or another. 

IVIRS. CALVIN. John, you won't get at it by 
torturing Dan. 

[cALViN hardens. He looks at his wife and 

then dismisses francis with a nod. 

There is silence while francis goes. 

MARTIN stands, forgotten, hy the door. 

CASEY, [nodding.] Why, there's no truth to 

get at, in a man hke that. Ain't I been saying 

so all along. Warden.^ 

MRS. CALVIN. We mean different things, I 
think. I object to the method. . . . 

CALVIN, [dryly.] Just what do you suggest, 
Mary.^ 

MRS. CALVIN. I — I wish I knew. 
CALVIN. I confess I'm ready to try anything. 
I must have the truth. 

[martin moves forward with great interest^ 
hut he does not speak. 
CASEY, [cheering up under the influence of the 
coffee.] There's no such a thing as truth in a 
convict. 

[martin moves again. 
MRS. CALVIN. You are wrong, Mr. Casey! 



ACT iv] PUNISHMENT 105 

MARTIN, [nervously.] Excuse me. . . . 

[They all turn and look at him. He has 
been forgotten. He stops, embarrassed. 
MRS. CALVIN, [kindly.] Yes, Martin.^ 
MARTIN. I can't help saying it! I can't help 
it! I knew Dan before he ever came here. . . . 
Dan's a square guy. . . . [He hesitates again.] 

MRS. CALVIN. YeS.^ 

MARTIN. He won't squeal on his friends. 
That's why he won't talk. 

CALVIN, [thoughtfully.] That's what Wilson 
said. 

MARTIN. It's true, Warden, but if. . . • 
[Hesitates.] 

CALVIN. Well? 

MARTIN. Let Mrs. Calvin speak to him. 
Warden. [He turns to mrs. calvin.] Talk to 
him like you talked to me, ma'am, about your 
trusting me. If you trust him, he'll be on the 
level with you. Honest, he will ! 

MRS. CALVIN. You think he'll tell me the truth ? 

MARTIN. I know he will, ma'am. 

[There is a short pause. 

CASEY. Trust that con — bah! 

MARTIN, [quickly.] She trusted me. 

[calvin is thinking^ looking from one to 
another of the trio. MRS. calvin has her 
eyes on martin. 



106 PUNISHMENT [act iv 

MARTIN. I know — because she trusted me. 
Trust Dan, too, Mrs. Calvin. He'll be on the 
level. 

MRS. CALVIN, [briskly to calvin.] Could I 
talk with Dan.^ 

CALVIN. He's in his cell. You can't go there. 

MRS. CALVIN. Bring him here. 

CALVIN. What could you say to him . . .? 

MRS. CALVIN. I don't kuow. I'll find some- 
thing. Bring him here, [calvin hesitates.] 
Surely you have nothing to lose by letting me 
try. You said you'd use any means. Don't 
you remember his mother's visit .^ He listened 
to me then. Let me try, John ! 

CASEY. I agree with your husband, this 
time, Mrs. Calvin. It's tomfoolery — senti- 
mentalism ! 

[calvin gives casey one look and takes 
the telephone, mrs. calvin smiles a 
little and crosses to the window. 

calvin. [into the 'phone.] Francis ... I 
want Moyne brought to the office. Yes . . . 
at once. [He hangs up.] 

CASEY, [crossing to mrs. calvin.] You ladies 
let your feelings get the best of you. Moyne 
is just a crook. You can't trust him. For 
that matter — I know some things about his 
past. [He indicates martin.] 



ACT iv] PUNISHMENT 107 

MARTIN, [steadily.] So does Mrs. Calvin, 
Mr. Casey. 

[For a moment casey and martin are 
eye to eye, 

MRS. CALVIN. I can't talk to Dan while 
Mr. Casey is here, John. [To casey.] You 
understand that, Mr. Casey. 

CASEY. Certainly, certainly. 

MRS. CALVIN. I'll have to be with Dan — 
alone. 

CALVIN, [shaking his head.] That isn't possi- 
ble, Mary. I shall insist on being here. 

MRS. CALVIN. Don't you see that you and 
Mr. Casey will both frighten Dan.^ He won't 
dare say anything against either of you. I 
must see him alone. 

CALVIN. Even if the prison rules allowed it, 
I could not, Mary. 

CASEY. If I'm in Mrs. Calvin's way, I'd 
better run along. It'll be train time soon, any- 
how, and I'll walk to the station. 

CALVIN. Not yet — Mr. Casey. 

MRS. CALVIN. Take Mr. Casey into the outer 
oflSce, John. I must talk to Dan alone. 

CASEY, [turning away; jocular.] What can 
I do.^ Warden w^on't let me go; Mrs. Calvin 
won't let me stay. Fm not interested, of 
course ! 



108 PUNISHMENT [act iv 

MRS. CALVIN, [to her husband, in a lowered 
voice.] Let me see Dan alone, dear. 

CALVIN, [to her in the same tone,] I couldn't, 
Mary. 

[cASEY, who has been strolling aimlessly 
about the room, looks at the wash-stand 
about which is the great screen. This 
evidently recalls to him his past skir- 
mishings, for he remarks in a bantering 
tone, not unaware of the irony: 
CASEY. Put me behind the screen, Mrs. 
Calvin! Put me behind the screen! 

MRS. CALVIN. I have no intention of being 
anything but fair with Dan. You will have to 
take Mr. Casey away, John. 

CALVIN, [flatly.] You cannot be left alone 
with a criminal who has just made a desperate 
attempt to escape. 

[There is a pause. 
MRS. CALVIN. Then I can do nothing. [In- 
voluntarily she turns to martin.] 

MARTIN, [his eyes aflame.] Let them do it! 
If Dan's square with you, and tells you the 
truth, he won't be afraid of having it heard. 
It's more fair for him to have a chance than to 
be condemned without a hearing. 
MRS. CALVIN. You really think so? 
MARTIN. Yes! Yes, Mrs. Calvin. You 



ACT iv] PUNISHMENT 109 

believe somebody is double-crossing Dan, and 
that he won't squeal, don't you? If you really 
trust him — it won't hurt for the Warden and 
Mr. Casey to hear what he says! 

MRS. CALVIN. You're right, Martin. You 
may sit behind the screen, Mr. Casey. 

CASEY. Say, you don't think I meant that, 
do you.^ 

MRS. CALVIN. Perhaps not, but I did. 

CALVIN. It's too far-fetched, Mary. 

MRS. CALVIN. I feel no anxiety about what 
Dan may tell me. [She turns quickly to casey.] 
Do you.^ 

CASEY. I do not. 

MRS. CALVIN. Then you won't object to 
doing what I ask.'^ 

CASEY. It's nonsense — wasting time for 
nothing. 

[cALViN has been watching casey closely. 

CALVIN. I agree, Mary. 

MRS. CALVIN. Good. Put two chairs behind 
the screen then. It may take some time. 

CALVIN. Two ! 

MRS. CALVIN. Dan must feel free to talk, 
John, [casey enjoys calvin's dismay.] You 
and Mr. Casey may sustain each other's dignity. 

CALVIN. Nonsense! 

MRS. CALVIN. That's just what Mr. Casey 



110 PUNISHMENT [act iv 

said. Don't hesitate because of a little false 
pride. 

CASEY. She's got us in a forked stick, Calvin. 
[There is the sound of someone outside the 
door. MRS. CALVIN stands between the 
two men. She appeals to calvin with 
a gesture, calvin replies by going be- 
hind the screen, casey follows him 
out of sight. There is a knock at the 
door. MRS. CALVIN draws a long breath. 
Then, with a quick glance at martin, 
she opens the door. Keeper francis 
stands there with dan. 
FRANCIS. The Warden said to. . . . 
MRS. CALVIN. Come in. The Warden has 
said I may speak to Dan. 

[francis and dan come inside, francis 
sees the empty room with a start, dan 
gives one quick, suspicious glance about 
and drops his eyes again. 
MRS. CALVIN, [holding out her hand to martin.] 
Thank you, Martin. Write to me. Good-bye. 
[dan looks up in time to see martin take 
MRS. Calvin's hand. 
MARTIN. Good-bye, Mrs. Calvin. . . . May 
God bless you! 

[martin's eyes travel to dan. mrs. cal- 
vin smiles. 



ACT iv] PUNISHMENT 111 

MRS. CALVIN. You know Dan. 
MARTIN, [to DAN.] Well, old pal — be good ! 
[He steps forward and puts out his hand. He 
chokes, unable to find words. Then in a low tone — 
She's — white! [He exits.] 

MRS. CALVIN. That's ail, thank you, Mr. 
Francis. Will you wait outside.'^ 
FRANCIS. Outside.^ 

MRS. CALVIN. I have something to say to Dan. 
FRANCIS. Alone .^ 
MRS. CALVIN. Just as you see me. 
FRANCIS. But, Mrs. Calvin, it's against the 
rules. 

MRS. CALVIN. It's uever been done, I know. 
But I am personally responsible for Dan's 
safety, and for my own. If any accident should 
happen it will be wholly my fault. 

[dan is interested in this view. 
FRANCIS. Well, I never. . . . 
MRS. CALVIN. I'll call you. 

[She closes the door behind him although he 
is but half convinced. She turns to dan 
and smiles, dan looks around the room 
with suspicion, mrs. calvin goes to 
the desk and draws the chair away from 
ity sitting comfortably. 
MRS. CALVIN. Sit down, Dan. [He is em- 
barrassed and half refuses.] Please do. We can 



112 PUNISHMENT [act iv 

talk better so. [dan perches on the edge of a 

chair uncomfortably,] You haven't been very 

comfortable for the last two days, have you? 

[dan scowls.] Oh, I know all about it, and I 

think I understand more than you'd think. 

[She pauses a moment, uncertain how to go on.] 

[dan does not look at her. She watches him 

and then throws a swift query at him. 

MRS. CALVIN. You dou't like the Warden, do 

you, Dan.^ 

[dan lifts his face to her, startled. 
MRS. CALVIN, [following it up.] I knew you 
didn't. I'm not surprised. He's been very 
hard with you, hasn't he? [She pauses, dan's 
eyes are fastened to her face.] He's been hard 
with me too, Dan. 

[Behind the screen, calvin's face sets. 

CASEY turns to look at him. They are 

both unhappy and uneasy, though for 

different reasons. 

MRS. CALVIN. How many children did your 

mother say you had; three, wasn't it? [dan 

nods.] Three. And the baby is a boy — Jimmy. 

[dan nods again, pleased that she remembers. He 

sits more at ease in his chair.] I remember your 

mother said he had a new tooth. [She smiles.] 

DAN. [for the first time; gruffly.] He was two 

weeks old when I saw him. 



ACT IV] PUNISHMENT 113 

MRS. CALVIN, [gently,] His mother died when 
he came? 

[dan nods. 
MRS. CALVIN. It's sad that women should die 
when their babies are born. . . . 

DAN. [looking away.] She's better out of 
it. 

MRS. CALVIN. But you're not better without 
her. 

[dan flashes another look at her. 
MRS. CALVIN. I can't help thinking how she'd 
have loved little Jimmy. 
DAN. Maizy's my pet. 

[Behind the screen both calvin and casey 
fail to see where mrs. calvin is leading. 
They cannot fail to be interested in the 
fact that she is making dan talk, even 
though the conversation is about some- 
thing which is apparently beside the 
point. CASEY, who understands her 
method better than calvin— /or after all, 
her method is his method — grows in- 
creasingly uneasy. 
MRS. CALVIN. How old is Maizy? 
DAN. She's ten, ma'am. 
MRS. CALVIN. You told me that before, I 
remember. 

DAN. She's a little woman. You ought to see 



114 PUNISHMENT [act iv 

her, sewing on her daddy's buttons, or making 
him a cup of tea. 

MRS. CALVIN. Like her mother, isn't she.^ 
DAN. Just Hke. 

MRS. CALVIN. I had a Httle boy, Dan — two 
years ago. 

[dan waits, slightly embarrassed. 

MRS. CALVIN. He was older than your 

Maizy — he was twelve. We were— pals. [She 

smiles.] He used to call us that when he could 

scarcely talk. His name was Walter. 

[There is a tense pause. Behind the screen 

CALVIN grows stiff with fury, casey is 

more on edge than ever. 

MRS. CALVIN. I know how you feel about 

Maizy. It was that way with Walter. I never 

looked at him without seeing his father. He 

was eager, too eager, too quick, impulsive, 

too easily hurt by things — just like his 

father. 

[dan looks up in surprise. 

MRS. CALVIN. You dou't scc thosc things in 

the Warden, Dan. It's hard for me to see them 

now. He's hidden them. But they were all 

there when we were married. 

[Without realizing it mrs. calvin has been 
pleading, not only with dan, but with 
her husband, calvin's face is a study 



ACT iv] PUNISHMENT 115 

in incredulity, casey is restless, dan 
forgets his embarrassment and suspi- 
cion; all but his interest in MRS. Cal- 
vin's simple earnestness. 
MRS. CALVIN. I see things in the Warden that 
you do not; just as I see much in you which the 
Warden cannot see. 

DAN. [with polite acquiescence.] Yes, ma'am. 
MRS. CALVIN. Walter was very Kke his 
father; too Uke him. They couldn't understand 
each other. I used to be very unhappy, some- 
times, but I always hoped that Walter would 
grow into a fine, strong man. . . . 

[dan nods. 
MRS. CALVIN, [svriftly.] Do you know how 
my little boy died.^ . . . He took poison. 

[dan gulps. Calvin's face is set with pain. 
Even CASEY flinches. 
MRS. CALVIN, [in a monotone.] It came from a 
little thing. Walter wanted to go to the circus. 
His father said, no. And — Walter was rude. 
He spoke to his father in a way which the War- 
den could not forgive. 

[dan looks at her — mute with suffering. 

-MRS. CALVIN. I'd been ill. That very day 

Walter carried up to the medicine chest my 

strychnine. He knew it was poison. We'd 

talked about it. And so — when his father sent 



116 PUNISHMENT [act iv 

him up to a dark room for punishment — he 
swallowed four of the little pills, Dan. 

[For a long moment mrs. calvin looks 
straight into dan's eyes. 
MRS. CALVIN. Strychnine. Do you 
know. . . . 

[dan turns his head away. 
MRS. CALVIN. I found him that way ... on 
the floor of the dark room. 

[Dumb with emotion, dan turns back to 

her. There is silence, mrs. calvin 

rises and stands looking into the gray 

light outside the window. 

MRS. CALVIN. The Warden never understood. 

He does not know, as I know, just what the child 

was thinking. Walter was unhappy because he 

had hurt his father. He thought he'd been 

wicked. He knew that he'd made me unhappy 

too. And — he was afraid to stay alone in the 

dark. [She turns. For the first tim£, her voice 

quivers.] The dark is very terrible sometimes, 

to children. 

[dan rises. He stands in misery, looking 
at her. 
MRS. CALVIN. Do you kuow what kept me 
alive, Dan.^ The Warden. 

[dan darts a glance at her. 
MRS. CALVIN. I pitied him so much. My old 



ACT IV] PUNISHMENT 117 

love for him all swept back. . . . He's tragic, 
Dan. He believes he's right. The truth is, 
he's afraid — afraid to let himself feel — afraid to 
believe in good, wholesome things. . . . My 
hopes for Walter were gone. He could never 
grow into a fine, gentle man. After he had come 
to me, I'd loved him better than my husband. 
But — I longed to have his father take his place 
again. When we came here I felt that here per- 
haps he might throw off his shell, and try to help 
the men, building up their lives instead of tear- 
ing them down. 

[dan's face lights in admiration. There 
is a momenfs pause and then MRS. cal- 
viN turns to him quickly. 

MRS. CALVIN. Do you kuow what I want to 
see in this prison.^ Cheerful men. [dan looks 
up.] Healthy men. Men who are helping one 
another. Good pals, Dan — fifteen hundred 
friends of the Warden. And I'd like to see the 
Warden an honest pal to every man here. 
Every man should go out better than when he 
came in — instead of worse. . . . Couldn't you 
go straight, Dan, if you had a chance.^ 

DAN. What's the use.^ I was straight enough 
the first time I got sent up. 

MRS. CALVIN, [eagerly.] Yes? Tell me. 

DAN. I was living in a house with some pals — 



118 PUNISHMENT [act iv 

and then — I got married. We just went to the 
priest. But when I went to my room to get my 
things, the old woman was mad. Said I couldn't 
leave without permission. I didn't care for her, 
so I went. Well — they framed me up, and sent 
me here for two years. 

MRS. CALVIN. And your wife? 

DAN. [with infinite meaning,] She waited. 
When I got out we thought everything would be 
right. But no one wants to give a good job to an 
ex-con. . . . The boys was there ready to help 
me if I'd help them. What could I do.^ It was 
the only chance I could find. So I took it. If I 
got pinched, they helped me out. They tried 
to get me a pardon this time. 

MRS. CALVIN. Was this last sentence a fair 
one, Dan.f^ 

DAN. Oh, I soaked the guy, all right. But he 
hit me first. [Defiantly.] Your law's damn 
foolishness! 

MRS. CALVIN. I don't woudcr that you think 
so. 

DAN. The Warden hated me from the first. 
They tipped him off, I was an old-timer. He 
made up his mind I was bad. [Snarling.] So I 
gave him what he was looking for! 

MRS. CALVIN. Of course. We all do that. 

DAN. Does he think I care a damn for his 



ACT iv] PUNISHMENT 119 

punishment? I'll bet I can hold out as long as 
he can! 

MRS. CALVIN. If — if the Warden helped you — 
if he really tried to understand you — couldn't 
you help him.^ 

DAN. [puzzled,] Help him.'^ 

MRS. CALVIN. Oh, Dan — I want him to be a 
friend to all the men. He ought not to stand 
over them with a club ! You can help him. You 
can help me! Will you? 

[dan is pleasedj even eager, but he is still a 
little gruff. 

DAN. How? 

MRS. CALVIN. The Warden won't believe me. 
You're the one to do it — you and Jack — and the 
rest. Show him you'll stand by each other, not 
against him, but with him! Martin's been help- 
ing me . . . won't you? 

DAN. I'll — I'll do what I can. 

MRS. CALVIN, [putting out her hand.] We'll be 
friends — pals? 

DAN. All right. 

MRS. CALVIN. Help me to show the Warden 
his mistakes. I'll promise that no harm comes 
to any friend of yours. 

[Behind the screen, calvin draws a long, 
quivering breath. His face is white, and 
wet with perspiration, but it is set 



120 PUNISHMENT [act iv 

in new lines, casey turns and stares at 
him. 
MRS. CALVIN. We'll trust each other. Even 
if — circumstances point against us, you'll trust 
me as I trust you. Is that a bargain.^ [dan 
nods.] Dan, tell me the truth about Mr. 
Casey. 

[casey gives a quick, uneasy movement. 
CALVIN is all attention. This is the 
turning point for him. If dan speaks 
frankly, and sincerely, calvin's shell 
will break, and his whole philosophy he 
shattered. But if the man fails to meet 
the test, the new ideas which have been 
kindled by the train of circumstances, 
since jack's information on the night 
before, will be lost. 
MRS. CALVIN. Mr. Casey says you're a crook, 
and can't be trusted to tell the truth, Dan. 

[dan has a momentary return of sus- 
picion. 
MRS. CALVIN. Remember — don't be afraid to 
trust me. [He looks at her longingly.] You stick 
by people who stick by you, don't you.^ 
dan. You bet I do ! 

MRS. CALVIN. Jack Wilson's a friend of yours? 
[i>A.'^ frowns,] 
dan. He was. 



ACT IV] PUNISHMENT 121 

MRS. CALVIN. He thinks Mr. Casey is double- 
crossing you. 

DAN. [bitterly.] Jack's turned stool-pigeon. 

MRS. CALVIN. He only did it to help you. He 

only wants you to have fair play, Dan. And 

you want him to have it too. If Mr. Casey is 

really back of all this, and you tell me that he 

isn't, you'll double-cross two pals — Jack and me. 

[She waits, dan thinks this over, casey 

clenches his fists. 

MRS. CALVIN. Jack thinks you're square; so 

does Martin. And so do I ! [She pauses for an 

instant.] Mr. Casey did manage your escape, 

didn't he, Dan? 

[For a moment dan looks straight into 

MRS. calvin's eyes. 
CASEY tries to leap out and so prevent the 
answer, but calvin is prepared for this, 
and throwing one arm around Casey's 
shoulders, with his free hand over 
Casey's mouth, prevents his escape until 
after the monosyllable has left dan's 
lips. 
MRS. CALVIN returns dan's gaze without 
flinching. 
dan. Yes ! 

[casey makes a violent lunge and the 
screen totters. The two men struggle for 



122 PUNISHMENT [act iv 

an instant. Both dan and mrs. calvin 
turn toward them, dan, forgetting he is 
a prisoner, strides past her toward the 
screen. Then he turns and looks back 
at MRS. CALVIN. At this moment cal- 
vin thrusts CASEY back and steps 
out. 
DAN. [to MRS. CALVIN.] You trickcd me! 
[cASEY also appears, calvin is a changed man, 
and is elated in the change, casey is raging.] 
It's a plant — youVe double-crossed me! Ah — 
MRS. CALVIN. No, Dan ! Trust me ! Remem- 
ber — trust me! 

CALVIN, [speaking to dan as one man to an- 
other.] She's square, Dan. Trust her. [dan 
looks at him in stunned bewilderment.] And 
trust me too. I've been wrong — wrong for a 
long while. We've been pulling different ways 
— it's time we pulled together. . . . you're a pal 
of Mrs. Calvin's. . . . I'd like her pals to be 
mine. I'll stand by you. Wilson's right. You 
have been getting a dirty deal. So have a good 
many others. . . . But that's over now. 

[dan gazes at him in stunned awe. 
CALVIN. We'll just shake hands on this, Dan. 
[dan and calvin shake hands, not without 
sentiment, but wholly without senti- 
mentality. CASEY, 7vho has been en- 



ACT IV] PUNISHMENT 123 

gaged in assembling his routed forces^ 
sneers. 

CASEY. Very touching scene! 

CALVIN, [whirling on him,] As for you. . . . 

CASEY, [cutting in flatly.] Now just what 
are you going to do about me. Warden Calvin.^ 
You can't do anything! If you've got the 
sense of a louse, you'll let me strictly alone. 
[He goes to the desk^ and takes the blue envelope 
from his inside pocket, removing the enclosure.] 
Slide your eye along that. Mister Warden. 
It may give you just an idea of what you're 
up against. [He hands the letter to calvin who 
takes it unwillingly.] Read it — read it! 

[calvin reads the letter and looks up with 
a start to meet casey's grin. 

CALVIN. The — [his look shows how startled 
he is.] 

CASEY, [nodding.] The Superintendent of 
Prisons in this State is no fool; he knows a good 
thing when he sees it. He's your boss, ain't 
he? Well — he's mine too. He ain't going to 
let you turn this place into a comic supplement 
Sunday School. [He points to the letter.] Take 
what you want, he said — leave this when you 
go. . . . Well — what could you say when I — 
[he takes the desk key from his waistcoat pocket, 
and opens the desk drawer, taking out papers.] — 



124 PUNISHMENT [act iv 

took these and left that order behind? [He 
tosses the papers back in the drawer and slams it 
shut.] 

[cALViN, by his expression^ shows that he 
could have said or done nothing. 
CASEY. Don't think the Superintendent is 
the only boss I've got. There are bigger than 
him. You aren't fighting me, Stephen Casey. 
There's more to it than that, friend Warden. 
Powerful men are behind — men I don't even 
know! They send me my orders and I jump! 
And don't you forget it — they'll spend money 
against you. This prison is too slick a thing 
to let slip. There's money to be made from 
it — it's a paying proposition! We'd be crazy 
to let it go without a fight! . . . You're one 
man — and you're fighting a machine. Drop 
it! 

[cALViN is thinking hard. The windows 
reflect the rosy light of dawn. Of a 
sudden there is heard the clicking of the 
levers opening the cell-rows. Then there 
follows the sound of the men marching 
from the cells. At the sound calvin 
involuntarily straightens. He looks at 

CASEY. 

CASEY, [pointing to the letter which calvin has 
dropped on the desk.] You ain't got evidence of 



ACT iv] PUNISHMENT 125 

anything. I told you to find out the difference 
between testimony and evidence once before. 
[He turns to dan, laughing nastily,] Do you 
think your word's worth an ounce of plug-cut 
in any court in the country? It ain't! [He 
turns back to calvin.] You can't touch me. 
CALVIN, [slowly.] No. 

CASEY. Don't be a fool. Throw up the 
sponge, while you can, Warden. We're organ- 
ized, rich. You're — one man ! 

[A flash — the old fanatic look — sweeps 

calvin's face. He turns to dan. The 

sound of the men marching is beginning 

to die away. 

CALVIN. Dan — listen — [the marching ceases] — 

They've gone to breakfast. ... If I stand by 

them, will they stand by me.^ 

DAN. [huskily.] You bet they will. Warden — 
or we'll know the reason why! 

[calvin looks past dan to his wife. She 

smiles at him and involuntarily moves 

nearer, but stops by dan, as calvin 

with a smile of understanding, moves 

to the door. 

CALVIN, [calling into the outer office.] Francis ! 

[He turns to casey.] I begin to see what I'm 

fighting, Mr. Casey. And I've found, I believe, 

the one weapon which will prevail against it. 



126 PUNISHMENT [act iv 

[He drops his hand lightly on dan's shoulder. 
The gesture is half unconscious.] 

[FRANCIS stands in the doorway waiting 

for orders, dan stands between calvin 

and MRS. CALVIN. CASEYj in spite of 

his bravadoy is impressed. 

CASEY. Think you'll try a little brotherly 

love, eh? Huh — that's a joke. You're a fool. 

You forget they're only a lot of crooks. 

MRS. CALVIN, [flashing at him.] We hope 
they'll forget it too, Mr. Casey! 

[calvin smiles and turns to francis. 

CALVIN, [briskly.] Mr. Casey will go to 

town by the first train. Release King and 

Scott — we shall not need them. They may 

resign by letter. 

FRANCIS. Yes, sir. 

CALVIN. Moyne will go to the mess-hall. 
FRANCIS. Yes, sir. 

CALVIN. And — in ten minutes I wish to 
speak to the men. 

FRANCIS. Yes, Warden. 

[calvin nods dismissal and francis goes. 

CASEY. Think you'll stick it out, do you.^ 

I tell you, John Calvin, within one month there 

will be a new Warden appointed for Riverside 

Prison! 

calvin. Riverside Prison has a new Warden, 



ACT iv] PUNISHMENT 127 

Mr. Casey. He was appointed some fifteen 
minutes ago, by my wife. His name is Calvin, 
and if he's not enough for you and your su- 
periors you will find fifteen hundred of his 
deputies in the mess-hall — at breakfast. . . . 
Good morning! 

THE CURTAIN FALLS 



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